Touch-based gesture recognition and application navigation

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, and memory storing one or more programs. The device displays a first user interface of a hierarchy of user interfaces of a software application associated with first and second pan gesture recognizers. The first pan gesture recognizer is configured to recognize a pan gesture that has an initial direction along a first axis and/or a first direction. The second pan gesture recognizer is configured to recognize a pan gesture that has an initial direction along a second axis and/or a second direction distinct from the first direction. The device detects a first pan gesture in an initial direction across the touch-sensitive surface while displaying the first user interface. The device identifies a pan gesture recognizer configured to recognize the first pan gesture, and processes the first pan gesture using the identified pan gesture recognizer.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/334,588,filed Jul. 17, 2014, entitled “Touch-Based Gesture Recognition andApplication Navigation,” (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,430,142, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates generally to touch-based gesture recognition andapplication navigation, including but not limited to recognizing pangestures and navigating in a software application that has a hierarchyof user interfaces.

BACKGROUND

Touch-sensitive devices, such as tablets and smart phones with touchscreens, have become popular in recent years. Many touch-sensitivedevices are configured to detect touch-based gestures (e.g., tap, pan,swipe, pinch, depinch, and rotate gestures). Touch-sensitive devicesoften use the detected gestures to manipulate user interfaces and tonavigate between user interfaces in software applications on the device.

However, there is an ongoing challenge to properly recognize and respondto touch-based gestures. Incorrect recognition of a touch gesturetypically requires a user to undo any actions performed in response tothe misinterpreted gesture and to repeat the touch gesture, which can betedious, time-consuming, and inefficient. In addition, there is anongoing challenge to make navigation in software applications via touchgestures more efficient and intuitive for users.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for more efficient devices and methods forrecognizing touch-based gestures. Such devices and methods optionallycomplement or replace conventional methods for recognizing touch-basedgestures.

Moreover, there is a need for more efficient devices and methods fornavigating in software applications via touch gestures. Such devices andmethods optionally complement or replace conventional methods fornavigating in software applications via touch gestures.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at anelectronic device having a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one ormore processors, and memory. The memory stores one or more programs forexecution by the one or more processors. The method includes displayinga first user interface of a software application. The softwareapplication has a hierarchy of user interfaces. The first user interfaceis associated with at least a first pan gesture recognizer and a secondpan gesture recognizer. The first pan gesture recognizer is configuredto recognize a pan gesture that has an initial direction along a firstaxis on the touch-sensitive surface in a plurality of predefined axesand/or a first direction on the touch-sensitive surface in a pluralityof predefined directions. The second pan gesture recognizer isconfigured to recognize a pan gesture that has an initial directionalong a second axis on the touch-sensitive surface in the plurality ofpredefined axes and/or a second direction on the touch-sensitive surfacedistinct from the first direction, in the plurality of predefineddirections. The method also includes detecting a first pan gesture onthe touch-sensitive surface while displaying the first user interface.The first pan gesture has an initial direction across thetouch-sensitive surface. The method further includes, while detectingthe first pan gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, identifying,between the first pan gesture recognizer and the second pan gesturerecognizer, a pan gesture recognizer that is configured to recognize thefirst pan gesture based at least on the initial direction of the firstpan gesture; and processing the first pan gesture using the identifiedpan gesture recognizer.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes adisplay, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, memory, andone or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the memoryand configured to be executed by the one or more processors and the oneor more programs include instructions for performing the operations ofthe method described above. In accordance with some embodiments, agraphical user interface on an electronic device with a display, atouch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to executeone or more programs stored in the memory includes one or more of theelements displayed in the method described above, which are updated inresponse to processes, as described in the method described above. Inaccordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage medium hasstored therein instructions, which, when executed by an electronicdevice with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or moreprocessors, cause the device to perform the operations of the methoddescribed above. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronicdevice includes: a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and means forperforming the operations of the method described above.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces, andone or more processors are provided with more efficient methods forrecognizing touch-based gestures, thereby increasing the effectiveness,efficiency, and user satisfaction of and with such devices. Such methodsand interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods forrecognizing touch-based gestures.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at anelectronic device having a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one ormore processors, and memory. The memory stores one or more programs forexecution by the one or more processors. The method includes displayinga first user interface of a software application. The softwareapplication is configured to access a hierarchy of content items. Thehierarchy of content items includes at least a first parent content itemand a plurality of child content items of the first parent content item.The first user interface includes a concurrent display of a first imagethat represents the first parent content item and a first set ofthumbnail images that correspond to two or more child content items ofthe plurality of child content items of the first parent content item.The method also includes detecting a first pan gesture initially at alocation, on the touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to arespective thumbnail image of the first set of thumbnail images; anddetermining an initial direction of the first pan gesture. The methodfurther includes, in accordance with a determination that the initialdirection of the first pan gesture is horizontal, replacing a display ofthe first set of thumbnail images with a display of a second set ofthumbnail images that correspond to two or more child content items ofthe plurality of child content items, wherein the thumbnail images inthe first set are distinct from the thumbnail images in the second set;and, in accordance with a determination that the initial direction ofthe first pan gesture is vertical, replacing the first user interfacewith a second user interface that includes at least a portion of a childcontent item that corresponds to the respective thumbnail image.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes adisplay, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, memory, andone or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the memoryand configured to be executed by the one or more processors and the oneor more programs include instructions for performing the operations ofthe method described above. In accordance with some embodiments, agraphical user interface on an electronic device with a display, atouch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to executeone or more programs stored in the memory includes one or more of theelements displayed in the method described above, which are updated inresponse to processes, as described in the method described above. Inaccordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage medium hasstored therein instructions, which, when executed by an electronicdevice with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or moreprocessors, cause the device to perform the operations of the methoddescribed above. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronicdevice includes: a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and means forperforming the operations of the method described above.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces, andone or more processors are provided with more efficient methods fornavigating in a software application that has a hierarchy of userinterfaces, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and usersatisfaction of and with such devices. Such methods and interfaces maycomplement or replace conventional methods for navigating in a softwareapplication that has a hierarchy of user interfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various described embodiments,reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, inconjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numeralsrefer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network architectureof a social network in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary social networksystem in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary client device inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4CC illustrate exemplary user interfaces in a softwareapplication with a hierarchy of user interfaces, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hierarchy of contentitems in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hierarchy of contentitems in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary state machine for discrete gesturerecognizers in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5D illustrates an exemplary state machine for continuous gesturerecognizers in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A-6E are flow diagrams illustrating a method of processingtouch-based gestures in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7D are flow diagrams illustrating a method of navigating in asoftware application via touch gestures in accordance with someembodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The devices and methods described herein improve recognition of pangestures and use pan gestures to easily and efficiently navigate in asoftware application (e.g., a social networking application) that has ahierarchy of user interfaces.

A pan gesture may include movements of a finger touch input in bothhorizontal and vertical directions. Thus, it may be difficult todistinguish two different pan gestures using pan gesture recognizers.For example, two pan gesture recognizers, located in a same view, mayconflict with each other in trying to recognize a pan gesture in thesame view.

To address this problem, methods are described herein to identify thecorrect pan gesture recognizer to process a particular pan gesture basedon the initial direction of the particular pan gesture. For example,when a user at an electronic device provides a pan gesture that isinitially horizontal, the initially-horizontal pan gesture can bedistinguished from a pan gesture that is initially vertical. Because theinitial direction of the pan gesture is used to determine which gesturerecognizer processes the pan gesture, after the initial direction of thepan gesture is identified, subsequent movements in the pan gesture maybe provided in any direction (e.g., an initially-horizontal pan gesturemay include a subsequent horizontal or diagonal movement). Thus, thecombination of a constrained initial direction and subsequent freemovement (e.g., movement in any direction on a touch screen) in a pangesture provides the flexibility associated with pan gestures whileallowing the use of multiple pan gesture recognizers, because a matching(e.g., a recognizing) gesture recognizer can be identified based on theinitial direction.

Methods are also described herein that use pan gestures to navigate in asoftware application that has a hierarchy of user interfaces. Forexample, a user can use various pan gestures to easily move betweencontent items (e.g., stories) in a single content section, betweenindividual stories and multiple stories and a representative image ofthe content section, and between different content sections. Thesemethods reduce the time spent navigating through a large number ofcontent items to find the desired content, thereby providing a moreefficient and intuitive human-machine interface and reducing powerconsumption by the electronic device.

Below, FIGS. 1-3 provide a description of devices used for providingsocial network content (e.g., client devices and social networkservers). FIGS. 4A-4CC illustrate exemplary user interfaces in asoftware application with a hierarchy of user interfaces (e.g., a socialnetworking application). FIG. 5A-5B are diagrams illustrating exemplaryhierarchies of content items. FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary statemachine for discrete gesture recognizers in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 5D illustrates an exemplary state machine forcontinuous gesture recognizers in accordance with some embodiments.FIGS. 6A-6E are flow diagrams illustrating a method of processingtouch-based gestures on an electronic device. FIGS. 7A-7D are flowdiagrams illustrating a method of navigating in a software applicationvia touch gestures. The user interfaces in FIGS. 4A-4CC, the diagrams inFIGS. 5A-5B, and the state machines in FIGS. 5C-5D are used toillustrate the processes in FIGS. 6A-6E and 7A-7D.

Reference will now be made to embodiments, examples of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide anunderstanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various describedembodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, andnetworks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarilyobscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, theseelements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used onlyto distinguish one element from another. For example, a first userinterface could be termed a second user interface, and, similarly, asecond user interface could be termed a first user interface, withoutdeparting from the scope of the various described embodiments. The firstuser interface and the second user interface are both user interfaces,but they are not the same user interface.

The terminology used in the description of the various describedembodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in thedescription of the various described embodiments and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as usedherein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when”or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting”or “in accordance with a determination that,” depending on the context.Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated conditionor event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event]” or “in accordance with a determination that [astated condition or event] is detected,” depending on the context.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network architectureof a social network in accordance with some embodiments. The networkarchitecture 100 includes a number of client devices (also called“client systems,” “client computers,” or “clients”) 104-1, 104-2, . . .104-n communicably connected to a social network system 108 by one ormore networks 106.

In some embodiments, the client devices 104-1, 104-2, . . . 104-n arecomputing devices such as smart watches, personal digital assistants,portable media players, smart phones, tablet computers, 2D gamingdevices, 3D (e.g., virtual reality) gaming devices, laptop computers,desktop computers, televisions with one or more processors embeddedtherein or coupled thereto, in-vehicle information systems (e.g., anin-car computer system that provides navigation, entertainment, and/orother information), or other appropriate computing devices that can beused to communicate with an electronic social network system. In someembodiments, the social network system 108 is a single computing devicesuch as a computer server, while in other embodiments, the socialnetwork system 108 is implemented by multiple computing devices workingtogether to perform the actions of a server system (e.g., cloudcomputing). In some embodiments, the network 106 is a publiccommunication network (e.g., the Internet or a cellular data network) ora private communications network (e.g., private LAN or leased lines) ora combination of such communication networks.

Users 102-1, 102-2, . . . 102-n employ the client devices 104-1, 104-2,. . . 104-n to access the social network system 108 and to participatein a social networking service. For example, one or more of the clientdevices 104-1, 104-2, . . . 104-n execute web browser applications thatcan be used to access the social networking service. As another example,one or more of the client devices 104-1, 104-2, . . . 104-n executesoftware applications that are specific to the social network (e.g.,social networking “apps” running on smart phones or tablets, such as aFacebook social networking application running on an iPhone, Android, orWindows smart phone or tablet).

Users interacting with the client devices 104-1, 104-2, . . . 104-n canparticipate in the social networking service provided by the socialnetwork system 108 by posting information, such as text comments (e.g.,updates, announcements, replies), digital photos, videos, audio files,links, and/or other electronic content. Users of the social networkingservice can also annotate information posted by other users of thesocial networking service (e.g., endorsing or “liking” a posting ofanother user, or commenting on a posting by another user). In someembodiments, information can be posted on a user's behalf by systemsand/or services external to the social network or the social networksystem 108. For example, the user may post a review of a movie to amovie review website, and with proper permissions that website maycross-post the review to the social network on the user's behalf. Inanother example, a software application executing on a mobile clientdevice, with proper permissions, may use global positioning system (GPS)or other geo-location capabilities (e.g., Wi-Fi or hybrid positioningsystems) to determine the user's location and update the social networkwith the user's location (e.g., “At Home,” “At Work,” or “In SanFrancisco, Calif.”), and/or update the social network with informationderived from and/or based on the user's location. Users interacting withthe client devices 104-1, 104-2, . . . 104-n can also use the socialnetwork provided by the social network system 108 to define groups ofusers. Users interacting with the client devices 104-1, 104-2, . . .104-n can also use the social network provided by the social networksystem 108 to communicate and collaborate with each other.

In some embodiments, the network architecture 100 also includesthird-party servers 110-1, 110-2, . . . 110-m. In some embodiments, agiven third-party server is used to host third-party websites thatprovide web pages to client devices 104, either directly or inconjunction with the social network system 108. In some embodiments, thesocial network system 108 uses iframes to nest independent websiteswithin a user's social network session. In some embodiments, a giventhird-party server is used to host third-party applications that areused by client devices 104, either directly or in conjunction with thesocial network system 108. In some embodiments, social network system108 uses iframes to enable third-party developers to create applicationsthat are hosted separately by a third-party server 110, but operatewithin a social networking session of a user and are accessed throughthe user's profile in the social network system. Exemplary third-partyapplications include applications for books, business, communication,contests, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, food and drink,games, health and fitness, lifestyle, local information, movies,television, music and audio, news, photos, video, productivity,reference material, security, shopping, sports, travel, utilities, andthe like. In some embodiments, a given third-party server is used tohost enterprise systems, that are used by client devices 104, eitherdirectly or in conjunction with the social network system 108. In someembodiments, a given third-party server is used to provide third-partycontent (e.g., news articles, reviews, message feeds, etc.).

In some embodiments, a given third-party server 110 is a singlecomputing device, while in other embodiments, a given third-party server110 is implemented by multiple computing devices working together toperform the actions of a server system (e.g., cloud computing).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary social networksystem 108 in accordance with some embodiments. The social networksystem 108 typically includes one or more processing units (processorsor cores) 202, one or more network or other communications interfaces204, memory 206, and one or more communication buses 208 forinterconnecting these components. The communication buses 208 optionallyinclude circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects andcontrols communications between system components. The social networksystem 108 optionally includes a user interface (not shown). The userinterface, if provided, may include a display device and optionallyincludes inputs such as a keyboard, mouse, trackpad, and/or inputbuttons. Alternatively or in addition, the display device includes atouch-sensitive surface, in which case the display is a touch-sensitivedisplay.

Memory 206 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM,DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices; and mayinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 206 may optionallyinclude one or more storage devices remotely located from theprocessor(s) 202. Memory 206, or alternately the non-volatile memorydevice(s) within memory 206, includes a non-transitory computer readablestorage medium. In some embodiments, memory 206 or the computer readablestorage medium of memory 206 stores the following programs, modules anddata structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   an operating system 210 that includes procedures for handling        various basic system services and for performing hardware        dependent tasks;    -   a network communication module 212 that is used for connecting        the social network system 108 to other computers via the one or        more communication network interfaces 204 (wired or wireless)        and one or more communication networks, such as the Internet,        cellular telephone networks, mobile data networks, other wide        area networks, local area networks, metropolitan area networks,        and so on;    -   a social network database 214 for storing data associated with        the social network, such as:        -   entity information 216, such as user information 218;        -   connection information 220; and        -   content 222, such as user content 224 and/or news articles            226;    -   a social network server module 228 for providing social        networking services and related features, in conjunction with        browser module 338 or social network client module 340 on the        client device 104, which includes:        -   a login module 230 for logging a user 102 at a client 104            into the social network system 108; and        -   a content feed manager 232 for providing content to be sent            to clients 104 for display, which includes:            -   a content generator module 234 for describing objects in                the social network database 214, such as images, videos,                audio files, comments, status messages, links,                applications, and/or other entity information 216,                connection information 220, or content 222; and            -   a content selector module 236 for choosing the                information/content to be sent to clients 104 for                display; and    -   a search module 238 for enabling users of the social network        system to search for content and other users in the social        network.

The social network database 214 stores data associated with the socialnetwork in one or more types of databases, such as graph, dimensional,flat, hierarchical, network, object-oriented, relational, and/or XMLdatabases.

In some embodiments, the social network database 214 includes a graphdatabase, with entity information 216 represented as nodes in the graphdatabase and connection information 220 represented as edges in thegraph database. The graph database includes a plurality of nodes, aswell as a plurality of edges that define connections betweencorresponding nodes. In some embodiments, the nodes and/or edgesthemselves are data objects that include the identifiers, attributes,and information for their corresponding entities, some of which arerendered at clients 104 on corresponding profile pages or other pages inthe social networking service. In some embodiments, the nodes alsoinclude pointers or references to other objects, data structures, orresources for use in rendering content in conjunction with the renderingof the pages corresponding to the respective nodes at clients 104.

Entity information 216 includes user information 218, such as userprofiles, login information, privacy and other preferences, biographicaldata, and the like. In some embodiments, for a given user, the userinformation 218 includes the user's name, profile picture, contactinformation, birth date, sex, marital status, family status, employment,education background, preferences, interests, and/or other demographicinformation.

In some embodiments, entity information 216 includes information about aphysical location (e.g., a restaurant, theater, landmark, city, state,or country), real or intellectual property (e.g., a sculpture, painting,movie, game, song, idea/concept, photograph, or written work), abusiness, a group of people, and/or a group of businesses. In someembodiments, entity information 216 includes information about aresource, such as an audio file, a video file, a digital photo, a textfile, a structured document (e.g., web page), or an application. In someembodiments, the resource is located in the social network system 108(e.g., in content 222) or on an external server, such as third-partyserver 110.

In some embodiments, connection information 220 includes informationabout the relationships between entities in the social network database214. In some embodiments, connection information 220 includesinformation about edges that connect pairs of nodes in a graph database.In some embodiments, an edge connecting a pair of nodes represents arelationship between the pair of nodes.

In some embodiments, an edge includes or represents one or more dataobjects or attributes that correspond to the relationship between a pairof nodes. For example, when a first user indicates that a second user isa “friend” of the first user, the social network system 108 transmits a“friend request” to the second user. If the second user confirms the“friend request,” the social network system 108 creates and stores anedge connecting the first user's user node and the second user's usernode in a graph database as connection information 220 that indicatesthat the first user and the second user are friends. In someembodiments, connection information 220 represents a friendship, afamily relationship, a business or employment relationship, a fanrelationship, a follower relationship, a visitor relationship, asubscriber relationship, a superior/subordinate relationship, areciprocal relationship, a non-reciprocal relationship, another suitabletype of relationship, or two or more such relationships.

In some embodiments, an edge between a user node and another entity noderepresents connection information about a particular action or activityperformed by a user of the user node towards the other entity node. Forexample, a user may “like,” “attended,” “played,” “listened,” “cooked,”“worked at,” or “watched” the entity at the other node. The page in thesocial networking service that corresponds to the entity at the othernode may include, for example, a selectable “like,” “check in,” or “addto favorites” icon. After the user clicks one of these icons, the socialnetwork system 108 may create a “like” edge, a “check in” edge, or a“favorites” edge in response to the corresponding user action. Asanother example, the user may listen to a particular song using aparticular application (e.g., an online music application). In thiscase, the social network system 108 may create a “listened” edge and a“used” edge between the user node that corresponds to the user and theentity nodes that correspond to the song and the application,respectively, to indicate that the user listened to the song and usedthe application. In addition, the social network system 108 may create a“played” edge between the entity nodes that correspond to the song andthe application to indicate that the particular song was played by theparticular application.

In some embodiments, content 222 includes text (e.g., ASCII, SGML,HTML), images (e.g., jpeg, tiff and gif), graphics (vector-based orbitmap), audio, video (e.g., mpeg), other multimedia, and/orcombinations thereof. In some embodiments, content 222 includesexecutable code (e.g., games executable within a browser window orframe), podcasts, links, and the like.

In some embodiments, the social network server module 228 includes webor Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) servers, File Transfer Protocol(FTP) servers, as well as web pages and applications implemented usingCommon Gateway Interface (CGI) script, PHP Hyper-text Preprocessor(PHP), Active Server Pages (ASP), Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML),Extensible Markup Language (XML), Java, JavaScript, AsynchronousJavaScript and XML (AJAX), XHP, Javelin, Wireless Universal ResourceFile (WURFL), and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary client device 104 inaccordance with some embodiments. The client device 104 typicallyincludes one or more processing units (processors or cores) 302, one ormore network or other communications interfaces 304, memory 306, and oneor more communication buses 308 for interconnecting these components.The communication buses 308 optionally include circuitry (sometimescalled a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications betweensystem components. The client device 104 includes a user interface 310.The user interface 310 typically includes a display device 312. In someembodiments, the client device includes inputs such as a keyboard,mouse, other input buttons 316, and/or a touch-sensitive surface 314(e.g., a touch pad). In some embodiments, the display device 312includes a touch-sensitive surface 314, in which case the display device312 is a touch-sensitive display. In client devices that have atouch-sensitive display 312, a physical keyboard is optional (e.g., asoft keyboard may be displayed when keyboard entry is needed). The userinterface 310 also includes an audio output device 318, such as speakersor an audio output connection connected to speakers, earphones, orheadphones. Furthermore, some client devices 104 use a microphone andvoice recognition to supplement or replace the keyboard. Optionally, theclient device 104 includes an audio input device 320 (e.g., amicrophone) to capture audio (e.g., speech from a user). Optionally, theclient device 104 includes a location detection device 322, such as aGPS (global positioning satellite) or other geo-location receiver, fordetermining the location of the client device 104. The client device 104also optionally includes an image/video capture device 324, such as acamera or webcam.

Memory 306 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM,DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices; and mayinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 306 may optionallyinclude one or more storage devices remotely located from theprocessor(s) 302. Memory 306, or alternately the non-volatile memorydevice(s) within memory 306, includes a non-transitory computer readablestorage medium. In some embodiments, memory 306 or the computer readablestorage medium of memory 306 stores the following programs, modules anddata structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   an operating system 326 that includes procedures for handling        various basic system services and for performing hardware        dependent tasks;    -   a network communication module 328 that is used for connecting        the client device 104 to other computers via the one or more        communication network interfaces 304 (wired or wireless) and one        or more communication networks, such as the Internet, cellular        telephone networks, mobile data networks, other wide area        networks, local area networks, metropolitan area networks, and        so on;    -   an image/video capture module 330 (e.g., a camera module) for        processing a respective image or video captured by the        image/video capture device 324, where the respective image or        video may be sent or streamed (e.g., by a client application        module 336) to the social network system 108;    -   an audio input module 332 (e.g., a microphone module) for        processing audio captured by the audio input device 320, where        the respective audio may be sent or streamed (e.g., by a client        application module) to the social network system 108;    -   a location detection module 334 (e.g., a GPS, Wi-Fi, or hybrid        positioning module) for determining the location of the client        device 104 (e.g., using the location detection device 322) and        providing this location information for use in various        applications (e.g., social network client module 340);    -   one or more client application modules 336, including the        following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or        superset thereof:        -   a web browser module 338 (e.g., Internet Explorer by            Microsoft, Firefox by Mozilla, Safari by Apple, or Chrome by            Google) for accessing, viewing, and interacting with web            sites (e.g., a social networking web site such as            www.facebook.com),        -   a social network client module 340 (e.g., Paper by Facebook)            for providing an interface to a social network (e.g., a            social network provided by social network system 108) and            related features; and/or        -   other optional client application modules 342, such as            applications for word processing, calendaring, mapping,            weather, stocks, time keeping, virtual digital assistant,            presenting, number crunching (spreadsheets), drawing,            instant messaging, e-mail, telephony, video conferencing,            photo management, video management, a digital music player,            a digital video player, 2D gaming, 3D (e.g., virtual            reality) gaming, electronic book reader, and/or workout            support; and    -   one or more gesture recognizers 344 for processing gestures        (e.g., touch gestures, such as pan, swipe, pinch, depinch,        rotate, etc.), including the following gesture recognizers, or a        subset or superset thereof:        -   a pan gesture recognizer 1 (346-1), which is also called            herein a first pan gesture recognizer, that is configured to            recognize a pan gesture;        -   a pan gesture recognizer 2 (346-2), which is also called            herein a second pan gesture recognizer, that is configured            to recognize a pan gesture; and        -   one or more other gesture recognizers (not shown), each of            which is configured to recognize a respective gesture (e.g.,            tap, swipe, pan, pinch, depinch, rotate, etc.).

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined orotherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. For example, in someembodiments, at least a subset of the gesture recognizers 344 (e.g., pangesture recognizer 1 (346-1) and pan gesture recognizer 2 (346-2)) isincluded in the operating system 326. In some other embodiments, atleast a subset of the gesture recognizers 344 (e.g., pan gesturerecognizer 1 (346-1) and pan gesture recognizer 2 (346-2)) is includedin the social network client module 340. In some embodiments, memory 206and/or 306 store a subset of the modules and data structures identifiedabove. Furthermore, memory 206 and/or 306 optionally store additionalmodules and data structures not described above.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”)and associated processes that may be implemented on a client device(e.g., client device 104 in FIG. 3).

FIGS. 4A-4CC illustrate exemplary user interfaces in a softwareapplication with a hierarchy of user interfaces, in accordance with someembodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to illustratethe processes described below, including the processes in FIGS. 6A-6Eand 7A-7D.

FIGS. 4A-4B and 4F-4G illustrate exemplary user interfaces associatedwith a section view mode in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with ahorizontal pan gesture on a story thumbnail image in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 4A illustrates that the client device 104-1 includes a display 312.The client device 104-1 includes a touch-sensitive surface. In someembodiments, the display 312 includes the touch-sensitive surface, andthe display 312 is a touch-sensitive display (also called herein a touchscreen). In some embodiments, the portable electronic device 104-1 alsoincludes one or more physical buttons (e.g., a home button 316-1, etc.).

In FIG. 4A, the display 312 displays a user interface that includes aplurality of user interface elements, including a plurality of images.In some embodiments, the plurality of images includes a first sectionimage 401-1 that represents a first section (e.g., a social networkingcontent section in the social network client module 340, which alsocontains other content sections). The plurality of images also includesthumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3 that correspond to stories inthe first section (e.g., comments or postings by users who are connectedto a user of the client device 104-1 in a social networking service(so-called “friends” of the user)).

FIG. 4A also illustrates that a horizontal pan gesture 405 (e.g., aleftward pan gesture) is detected initially at a location on thetouch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the thumbnail image 406-2(which corresponds to Story 2) on the display 312.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the horizontal pan gesture 405 includes asubstantially horizontal movement of a touch. In other words, thehorizontal pan gesture 405 need not be perfectly horizontal, and neednot be perfectly linear. Regardless, in some cases, the horizontal pangesture 405 is recognized as a horizontal gesture in accordance with adetermination that the horizontal pan gesture 405 satisfies predefinedcriteria. In some embodiments, the predefined criteria include that anangle formed by an initial direction 492 of the horizontal pan gesture405 and a reference axis 490 (e.g., a horizontal axis on the display312) is within a predefined angle. In some embodiments, the predefinedangle corresponds to an angle formed by a predefined threshold direction494 and the reference axis 490. In some other embodiments, thepredefined criteria include that a ratio of a vertical component of aninitial movement of the horizontal pan gesture 405 (e.g., verticaldistance traversed by the horizontal pan gesture 405) and a horizontalcomponent of the initial movement of the horizontal pan gesture 405(e.g., horizontal distance traversed by the horizontal pan gesture 405)is less than a predefined threshold value. In some embodiments, aninitial velocity of the horizontal pan gesture 405 is used instead of,or in addition to, an initial distance traversed by the pan gesture.

Although FIG. 4A is used to describe a horizontal pan gesture, avertical pan gesture can be recognized in a similar manner. For example,a vertical pan gesture need not be perfectly vertical and need not beperfectly linear. For brevity, such details are not repeated here.

FIG. 4B illustrates that, in response to the horizontal pan gesture 405,the thumbnail images are scrolled. For example, the thumbnail images406-1, 406-2, and 406-3 illustrated in FIG. 4A are scrolled horizontallyso that the thumbnail image 406-1 ceases to be displayed. The thumbnailimage 406-3, which is partially included in the user interfaceillustrated in FIG. 4A, is included in its entirety in the userinterface illustrated in FIG. 4B. FIG. 4B also illustrates that the userinterface includes at least a portion of a new thumbnail image 406-4.

FIGS. 4C-4E illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with avertical pan gesture on a story thumbnail image in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4C illustrates that a vertical pan gesture (e.g., an upward pangesture) is detected initially at a location 407-1 on thetouch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the thumbnail image 406-1(which corresponds to Story 1) on the display 312.

FIG. 4D illustrates that the vertical pan gesture remains in contactwith the display 312 and has moved to a location 407-2. FIG. 4D alsoillustrates that, in response to the movement of a touch in the verticalpan gesture from the location 407-1 (FIG. 4C) to the location 407-2(FIG. 4D), one or more thumbnail images are enlarged. For example, inFIG. 4D, the thumbnail images 406-1 and 406-2 have been enlarged inaccordance with the movement of the touch from the location 407-1 to thelocation 407-2 (e.g., a vertical distance from the location 407-1 to thelocation 407-2). In FIG. 4D, the thumbnail image 406-3 (FIG. 4C) ceasesto be displayed.

FIG. 4E illustrates that in response to a further upward movement of thevertical pan gesture or in response to a release of the vertical pangesture from the display 312 (e.g., the vertical pan gesture ceases tobe detected on the display 312), the thumbnail image 406-1 is furtherenlarged to become a full-screen-width image 408-1 that corresponds toStory 1. In FIG. 4E, a width of the image 408-1 correspondssubstantially to a full width of the display 312 (e.g., the width of theimage 408-1 corresponds 70, 75, 80, 90 or 95 percent or more of the fullwidth of the display 312). As used herein, a display that includes afull-screen-width image that corresponds to a story is called a storyview.

FIG. 4E also illustrates that the full scale image 408-1 includes one ormore photos, such as photos 410-1 and 410-2.

FIGS. 4F-4G illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with ahorizontal pan gesture on a section image in accordance with someembodiments.

In FIG. 4F, a horizontal pan gesture 409 (e.g., a left pan gesture) isdetected initially at a location that corresponds to the first sectionimage 404-1.

FIG. 4G illustrates that, in response to the horizontal pan gesture 409,the first section image 404-1 is scrolled and replaced with a secondsection image 404-2 that corresponds to a second section (e.g., aheadline news section). For example, the first section image 404-1 isscrolled horizontally in a same direction as the horizontal pan gesture409 and the second section image 404-2 is scrolled in horizontally inthe same direction to replace the first section image 404-1.

FIG. 4G also illustrates that, in response to the horizontal pan gesture409, the thumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3 (FIG. 4F) thatcorrespond to stories in the first section are replaced with thumbnailimages that correspond to stories in the second section (e.g., newsarticles). For example, the thumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3 arescrolled horizontally in a same direction as the horizontal pan gesture409 and thumbnail images 406-5, 406-6, and 406-7 are scrolled inhorizontally in the same direction to replace the thumbnail images406-1, 406-2, and 406-3.

In some embodiments, a section image for a particular section isselected from images in stories in the particular section. For example,in FIG. 4G, the second section image 404-2 corresponds to an image inStory 2, which is shown in the thumbnail image 406-6.

FIGS. 4H-4I illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with avertical pan gesture on a section image in accordance with someembodiments.

In FIG. 4H, a vertical pan gesture 411 (a downward pan gesture) isdetected initially at a location that corresponds to the first sectionimage 404-1.

FIG. 4I illustrates that, in response to the vertical pan gesture 411,the user interface illustrated in FIG. 4H is scrolled (e.g., downward)and a user interface 440 for the social networking application isdisplayed. The user interface 440 illustrated in FIG. 4I includes asearch input area 412. In some embodiments, the user interface 440 forthe social networking application includes a user interface icon 414,which, when selected (e.g., with a tap gesture), initiates display of ahome page of a user associated with the client device 104-1. In someembodiments, the user interface 440 for the social networkingapplication includes a user interface icon 416, which, when selected(e.g., with a tap gesture), initiates display of a user interface forcomposing a message for the social networking application. In someembodiments, the user interface 440 for the social networkingapplication includes a user interface icon 418, which, when selected(e.g., with a tap gesture), initiates display of a user interface forselecting and/or deselecting sections for the social networkingapplication. In some embodiments, the user interface 440 for the socialnetworking application includes a user interface icon 420, which, whenselected (e.g., with a tap gesture), initiates display of a userinterface for adjusting settings in the social networking application.

FIG. 4I also illustrates that a portion 422 of the user interfaceillustrated in FIG. 4H remains on the display 312. In some embodiments,the portion 422, when selected (e.g., with a tap gesture on the portion422), causes the client device 104-1 to cease to display the userinterface 440 for the social networking application and redisplay theuser interface illustrated in FIG. 4H in its entirety.

FIGS. 4J-4R illustrate exemplary user interface associated with a storyview mode in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 4J-4K illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with ahorizontal pan gesture on an image that corresponds to a story (e.g., afull-screen-width image) in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4J illustrates that a horizontal pan gesture 413 (e.g., a leftwardpan gesture) is detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surfacethat corresponds to the image 408-1 on the display 312.

FIG. 4K illustrates that, in response to the horizontal pan gesture 413,a full-screen-width image 408-2 that corresponds to Story 2 isdisplayed. In FIG. 4K, a width of the image 408-2 correspondssubstantially to a full width of the display 312 (e.g., the width of theimage 408-2 corresponds 70, 75, 80, 90 or 95 percent or more of the fullwidth of the display 312).

In some embodiments, Story 1 and Story 2 are adjacent to each other in asequence of stories in the social networking content section. In someembodiments, Story 2 is subsequent to Story 1 in the sequence ofstories.

In FIG. 4K, the image 402-8 includes a user interface icon 424 fordisplaying an embedded content item.

FIG. 4K also illustrates that the image 408-2 includes a comment 426from an author of Story 2 (e.g., Thomas Jefferson). In FIG. 4K, aportion of the comment 426 is truncated and displayed with a userinterface icon 428 (e.g., ellipsis), which, when selected (e.g., with atap gesture), initiates display of the truncated portion of the comment426. In some embodiments, in response to selecting the user interfaceicon 428, the user interface icon 428 is replaced with the truncatedportion of the comment 426.

In FIG. 4K, the image 408-2 is displayed with a user interface icon 430that includes one or more feedback indicators. For example, the userinterface icon 430 indicates how many users like Story 2 (e.g., 2,176users) and how many comments have been made for Story 2 (e.g., 328comments).

FIGS. 4L-4O illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with avertical pan gesture on an image that corresponds to a story (e.g., afull-screen-width image) in accordance with some embodiments. Thevertical pan gesture in this instance results in a story view mode beingchanged to a section view mode.

FIG. 4L illustrates that a vertical pan gesture is detected at alocation 415-1 on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to thefull-screen-width image 408-1 of Story 1.

FIG. 4M illustrates that the vertical pan gesture remains in contactwith the display 312 and has moved to a location 415-2. FIG. 4M alsoillustrates that, in response to the movement of a touch in the verticalpan gesture from the location 415-1 (FIG. 4L) to the location 415-2(FIG. 4M), the full-screen-width image 408-1 is reduced to become thethumbnail image 406-1. In addition, at least a portion of the thumbnailimage 406-2 is displayed. In FIG. 4M, the thumbnail images 406-1 and406-2 at least partially overlay the image 404-1.

FIG. 4M also illustrates that the vertical pan gesture continues to movein a direction that is not perfectly vertical (e.g., diagonal).

FIG. 4N illustrates that the vertical pan gesture remains in contactwith the display 312 and has moved to a location 415-3. FIG. 4N alsoillustrates that, in response to the movement of the touch from thelocation 415-2 (FIG. 4M) to the location 415-3 (FIG. 4N), the thumbnailimage 406-1 and the thumbnail image 406-2 are further reduced. Inaddition, in response to the movement of the touch from the location415-2 (FIG. 4M) to the location 415-3 (FIG. 4N), which includes ahorizontal movement of the touch, the thumbnail images 406-1 and thethumbnail image 406-2 are scrolled horizontally in accordance with thehorizontal movement of the touch. In FIG. 4N, the thumbnail images 406-1and 406-2 at least partially overlay the image 404-1.

FIG. 4O illustrates that, in response to a further downward movement ofthe touch or in response to a release of the touch from thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., the touch ceases to be detected on thetouch-sensitive surface), the thumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3are further reduced so that the thumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3cease to overlay the image 404-1.

FIGS. 4P-4Q illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with a userinterface icon for displaying an embedded content item in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 4P illustrates that a touch input 417 (e.g., a tap gesture) isdetected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that correspondsto the user interface icon 424 for displaying an embedded content item.

FIG. 4Q illustrates that, in response to detecting the touch input 417,the user interface illustrated in FIG. 4P is replaced with a userinterface that includes a full-screen-width display 432 of additionalinformation embedded in Story 2. In some embodiments, an animation inwhich the user interface icon 424 expands, opens, and/or unfolds, tobecome the full-screen-width display 432 of the additional informationis displayed in replacing the user interface illustrated in FIG. 4P withthe user interface that includes the full-screen-width display 432 ofadditional information embedded in Story 2.

In FIG. 4Q, a user interface icon 434 (e.g., a downward arrow icon) isdisplayed, overlaying the full-screen-width display 432 of additionalinformation. The user interface icon 434, when selected (e.g., with atap gesture on the icon 434 or a downward swipe or pan gesture 419 thatstarts on icon 434), initiates replacing the full-screen-width display432 of the additional information with the user interface that includesthe user interface icon 424 (FIG. 4P). In some embodiments, the userinterface icon 434 is transparent or translucent. In some embodiments,the user interface icon 434 is displayed in accordance with adetermination that the full-screen-width display 432 of the additionalinformation is scrolled (e.g., downward) at a speed that exceeds apredetermined speed. In some embodiments, the user interface icon 434 isdisplayed in accordance with a determination that the full-screen-widthdisplay 432 of the additional information includes a display of a lastportion (e.g., a bottom portion) of the additional information. In someembodiments, an upward arrow, instead of a downward arrow, is displayedover the additional information. In some embodiments, the downward arrowis displayed adjacent to a top portion of the display 312. In someembodiments, the user interface icon 434 is displayed in accordance witha determination that the full-screen-width display 432 of the additionalinformation includes a display of an initial portion (e.g., a topportion) of the additional information.

FIG. 4Q also illustrates that a downward gesture 419 (e.g., a downwardswipe gesture or a downward pan gesture that starts on icon 434 or anactivation region for icon 434) is detected while the additionalinformation is displayed. Alternatively, FIG. 4Q also illustrates that adownward gesture 441 (e.g., a downward swipe gesture or a downward pangesture that starts on the additional information, but away from icon434 or an activation region for icon 434) is detected while theadditional information is displayed.

FIG. 4R illustrates that, in response to detecting the downward gesture419, the full-screen-width display 432 of the additional information(FIG. 4Q) is replaced with the user interface that includes the userinterface icon 424. In some embodiments, an animation in which thefull-screen-width display 432 of the additional information shrinks,closes, and/or folds, to become the user interface icon 424 is displayedin replacing the full-screen-width display 432 of the additionalinformation with the user interface that includes the user interfaceicon 424.

If gesture 441 was detected in FIG. 4Q, instead of gesture 419, then theadditional information would be scrolled (not shown) instead of ceasingto show the additional information. Thus, depending on where the swipeor pan gesture is applied to the additional information, the additionalinformation either scrolls or ceases to be displayed. This provides aneasy way to navigate with swipe or pan gestures within the application.

FIGS. 4S-4X illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with a photoview mode in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4S illustrates that a touch input 421 (e.g., a tap gesture) isdetected at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that correspondsto a photo 410-1 in the full-screen-width image 408-1 on the display312.

FIG. 4T illustrates that, in response to detecting the touch input 421,the photo 410-1 is displayed in a photo view mode. In FIG. 4T, the photo410-1 is displayed without any other photo or text in thefull-screen-width image 408-1. In FIG. 4T, a width of the photo 410-1corresponds substantially to a full width of the display 312 (e.g., thewidth of the photo 410-1 corresponds 70, 75, 80, 90 or 95 percent ormore of the full width of the display 312). As used herein, a userinterface that includes a full-screen-width image of a single photo iscalled a photo view.

FIGS. 4T-4U illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with ahorizontal pan gesture on a photo in a photo view in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 4T illustrates that a horizontal pan gesture 423 (e.g., a leftwardpan gesture) is detected at a location on the touch-sensitive surfacethat corresponds to the photo 410-1.

FIG. 4U illustrates that, in response to the horizontal pan gesture 423,the photo 410-1 is replaced with the photo 410-2. In some embodiments,in Story 2, the photo 410-1 and the photo 410-2 are adjacent to eachother in a sequence of photos (e.g., the photo 410-1 and the photo 410-2are displayed adjacent to each other in FIG. 4S). In some embodiments,the photo 410-2 is subsequent to photo 410-1 in the sequence of photos.

FIGS. 4V-4X illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with aninitially vertical pan gesture on a photo in a photo view that changesdirection in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4V illustrates that an initially vertical pan gesture 425 (e.g., adownward pan gesture that is vertical or substantially vertical) isdetected at a location 425-1 on the touch-sensitive surface thatcorresponds to the photo 410-1.

FIG. 4W illustrates that the pan gesture 425 remains in contact with thetouch-sensitive surface and has moved to a location 425-2. FIG. 4W alsoillustrates that, in response to the movement of a touch in the pangesture from the location 425-1 (FIG. 4V) to the location 425-2 (FIG.4W), the photo 410-1 moves in accordance with the movement of the touchfrom the location 425-1 to the location 425-2, and the full-screen-widthimage 408-1 reappears and is overlaid with the photo 410-1.

In addition, FIG. 4W illustrates that the touch in the pan gesture 425continues to move on display 312, but changes direction (e.g., fromvertical to horizontal or diagonal). In some embodiments, the photo410-1 moves in accordance with the touch in the pan gesture (e.g., whenthe touch moves horizontally, the photo 410-1 moves horizontally).

FIG. 4X illustrates that the pan gesture 425 ceases to be detected onthe touch-sensitive surface. FIG. 4X also illustrates that, in responseto the pan gesture 425 ceasing to be detected on the touch-sensitivesurface, the full-screen-width image 408-1 is displayed without anoverlay.

FIGS. 4Y-4CC illustrate exemplary user interfaces associated with acomments popover view in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4Y illustrates that a touch input 427 (e.g., a tap gesture) isdetected at a location that corresponds to the user interface icon 430that includes one or more feedback indicators.

FIG. 4Z illustrates that, in response to detecting the touch input 427,a comments popover view 436 is displayed. In FIG. 4Z, the commentspopover view 436 is overlaid over the full-screen-width image 408-2 thatcorresponds to Story 2 (FIG. 4Y). The comments popover view 436 includesuser identifiers (e.g., user photos) that correspond to users who likedStory 2. The comments popover view 436 also includes user identifiersfor users, who left comments on Story 2, and their comments on Story 2.

In FIG. 4Z, the comments popover view 436 includes a user interface icon438 for displaying additional users (who liked Story 2). The userinterface icon 438 indicates a number of additional users who likedStory 2. In some embodiments, the user interface icon 438, when selected(e.g., with a tap gesture), initiates rearranging the displayed useridentifiers and displaying additional user identifiers that correspondto additional users who liked Story 2. For example, selecting the userinterface icon 438 displays an animation in which the horizontallyarranged user identifiers are rearranged to a vertically arrangedscrollable list of user identifiers.

FIG. 4Z also illustrates that a horizontal gesture 429 (e.g., arightward pan gesture or a rightward swipe gesture) is detected at alocation on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the commentspopover view 436.

FIG. 4AA illustrates that, in response to the horizontal pan gesture429, the display of the full-screen-width image 408-2 overlaid by thecomments popover view 436 is replaced with the full-screen-width image408-1.

FIG. 4BB illustrates that a vertical gesture 431 (e.g., a downward pangesture or a downward swipe gesture) is detected at a location on thetouch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the comments popover view436.

FIG. 4CC illustrates that, in response to the vertical pan gesture 431,the comments popover view 436 ceases to be displayed, and thefull-screen-width image 408-2 is displayed without an overlay.Alternatively or additionally, a touch input (e.g., a tap gesture) onthe touch-sensitive surface at a location that does not correspond tothe comments popover view 436 causes the popover view 436 to cease to bedisplayed, and initiates display of the full-screen-width image 408-2without an overlay.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hierarchy of contentitems in accordance with some embodiments.

Content items shown in FIG. 5A include parent content items, such asParent 1 and Parent 2, at the same hierarchical level in the hierarchyof content items. The content items may include additional content items(e.g., parent 3, not shown) at the same hierarchical level as Parent 1and Parent 2 in the hierarchy of content items.

Parent 1 has child content items, such as Child 1, Child 2, Child 3, andChild 4. Parent 1 may have additional child content items at the samehierarchical level as Child 1, Child 2, Child 3, and Child 4 in thehierarchy of content items. The child content items of Parent 1 arelocated on the same hierarchical level in the hierarchy of contentitems, which is immediately below the hierarchical level of Parent 1.Similarly, Parent 2 has child content items, such as Child 5, Child 6,and Child 7.

One or more child content items of a parent content item optionally havetheir own child content items. For example, FIG. 5A illustrates thatChild 1 has its own child content items, such as Grand Child 1 and GrandChild 2 (also called herein “grandchild content items” of a parentcontent item). Grandchild content items are located on the samehierarchical level in the hierarchy of content items, which isimmediately below the hierarchical level of Child 1, Child 2, Child 3,and Child 4 and two levels below the hierarchical level of Parent 1.

In FIG. 5A, the content items have three hierarchical levels (e.g., aparent content item level, a child content item level, and a grandchildcontent item level). In some embodiments, the content items have justtwo hierarchical levels (e.g., a parent content item level and a childcontent item level).

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hierarchy of contentitems in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5B is similar to FIG. 5A. In FIG. 5B, content items include contentsections, such as Section 1 and Section 2, at the parent content itemlevel. Each of the content section items corresponds to a contentsection (e.g., social network content, news headlines, technology,business, etc.).

Content items in FIG. 5B also include stories, such as Story 1 throughStory 7 at the child content item level.

In some embodiments, content items in FIG. 5B further include photos,such as Photo 1 and Photo 2, at the grandchild content item level.

FIGS. 5C and 5D together illustrate differences between discrete gesturerecognizers and continuous gesture recognizers in accordance with someembodiments. As stated below, certain differences between discretegesture recognizers and continuous gesture recognizers can be describedwith respect to their state transitions.

FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary state machine for discrete gesturerecognizers in accordance with some embodiments. Discrete gesturerecognizers are typically used to detect a single discrete gesture(e.g., within a short distance, such as an inch or less, or during ashort time period, such as 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or0.9 second).

A discrete gesture recognizer is in a “Possible” state before a touchgesture is detected on a touch-sensitive surface.

Once a touch gesture is detected, the discrete gesture recognizer entersa “Recognized” state in accordance with a determination that thedetected touch gesture matches a touch gesture that the discrete gesturerecognizer is configured to recognize (e.g., a tap gesture, a rightswipe gesture, or a double tap gesture). In some embodiments, thediscrete gesture recognizer sends an action message to a target object(e.g., a view controller of a view associated with the discrete gesturerecognizer) in association with entering the “Recognized” state (e.g.,upon entering the “Recognized” state or immediately before or afterentering the “Recognized” state). An action message indicates that thediscrete gesture recognizer has recognized the detected touch gesture.In some embodiments, the action message includes information about thedetected touch gesture (e.g., a coordinate of the detected touch gestureon the touch-sensitive surface, a number of contacts, etc.).

The discrete gesture recognizer enters a “Failed” state in accordancewith a determination that the detected touch gesture does not match thetouch gesture that the discrete gesture recognizer is configured torecognize (e.g., the detected touch gesture is a tap gesture when thediscrete gesture recognizer is configured to recognize a double tapgesture or the detected touch gesture is a pan gesture when the discretegesture recognizer is configured to recognize a tap gesture).

In some embodiments, the discrete gesture recognizer is reset (e.g., thestate of the discrete gesture recognizer is set to the “Possible”state). This allows the discrete gesture recognizer to recognize asubsequent touch gesture (if the subsequent touch gesture matches thetouch gesture that the discrete gesture recognizer is configured torecognize). In some embodiments, all gesture recognizers (including thediscrete gesture recognizer) are reset when no touch is detected on atouch-sensitive surface.

FIG. 5D illustrates an exemplary state machine for continuous gesturerecognizers in accordance with some embodiments. Continuous gesturerecognizers are typically used to detect a continuous gesture (e.g., apan gesture that remain on a touch-sensitive surface for at least apredefined time period, such as 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 seconds,or more).

A continuous gesture recognizer is in a “Possible” state before a touchgesture is detected on a touch-sensitive surface.

Once a touch gesture is detected, the continuous gesture recognizerenters a “Failed” state in accordance with a determination that thedetected touch gesture (or at least a detected initial portion of thetouch gesture) does not match a touch gesture that the continuousgesture recognizer is configured to recognize. For example, thecontinuous gesture recognizer enters the “Failed” state if the detectedtouch gesture is a discrete gesture, such as a tap gesture, a double tapgesture, or a swipe gesture (which is not a continuous gesture), or acontinuous gesture other than the continuous gesture that the continuousgesture recognizer is configured to recognize (e.g., a vertical pangesture when the continuous gesture recognizer is configured torecognize a horizontal pan gesture, or a horizontal pan gesture when thecontinuous gesture recognizer is configured to recognize a vertical pangesture).

The continuous gesture recognizer enters a “Began” state in accordancewith a determination that the detected touch gesture (or at least thedetected initial portion of the touch gesture) matches the touch gesturethat the continuous gesture recognizer is configured to recognize (e.g.,a pinch gesture, a depinch gesture, a rotation gesture or a pangesture). In some embodiments, the continuous gesture recognizer sendsan action message to a target object (e.g., a view controller of a viewassociated with the discrete gesture recognizer) in association withentering the “Began” state (e.g., upon entering the “Began” state orimmediately before or after entering the “Began” state).

After the continuous gesture recognize is in the “Began” state, thecontinuous gesture recognizer enters a “Changed” state in accordancewith a determination that a movement in the touch gesture is detected.For example, when a touch in a pan gesture moves across thetouch-sensitive surface, the continuous gesture recognizer enters the“Changed” state. In some embodiments, the continuous gesture recognizersends an action message to the target object in association withentering the “Changed” state (e.g., upon entering the “Changed” state).

In some embodiments, the continuous gesture recognizer re-enters the“Changed” state (or remains in the “Changed” state) in accordance with adetermination that a further movement in the touch gesture is detected.In some embodiments, the continuous gesture recognizer sends anotheraction message to the target object in association with detecting thefurther movement in the touch gesture. In some embodiments, thecontinuous gesture recognizer repeats re-entering (or remains in) the“Changed” state as the touch gesture continues to move.

From the “Changed” state, the continuous gesture recognizer enters a“Recognized” state in accordance with a determination that the touchgesture ceases to be detected. Alternatively, in some embodiments, fromthe “Changed” state, the continuous gesture recognizer enters the“Recognized” state in accordance with a determination that the detectedtouch gesture in its entirety matches the touch gesture that thecontinuous gesture recognizer is configured to recognize. In someembodiments, the determination that the detected touch gesture in itsentirety matches the touch gesture that the continuous gesturerecognizer is configured to recognize is made when the touch gestureceases to be detected on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., the touchgesture has been released from the touch-sensitive surface). In someembodiments, the continuous gesture recognizer sends an action message,indicating that the continuous gesture recognizer has recognized thedetected touch gesture, to the target object in association withentering the “Recognized” state.

In some embodiments, the continuous gesture recognizer enters the“Recognized” state directly from the “Began” state without entering the“Changed” state. For example, a gesture recognizer for ahold-and-release gesture enters the “Began” state when a touch isdetected on the touch-sensitive surface for a predefined time period ormore (e.g., a hold gesture). When the hold-and-release gesture does notinclude a lateral movement of the touch across the touch-sensitivesurface, the gesture recognizer does not enter the “Changed” state. Thegesture recognizer enters the “Recognized” state from the “Began” statewhen the touch is released from the touch-sensitive surface.

Alternatively, from the “Changed” state, the continuous gesturerecognizer enters a “Canceled” state in accordance with a determinationthat the detected touch gesture no longer matches the touch gesture thatthe continuous gesture recognizer is configured to recognize. In someembodiments, from the “Changed” state, the continuous gesture recognizerenters the “Canceled” state in accordance with a determination that anelectronic device (e.g., client device 104), which detects the touchgesture, has initiated a cancellation of the touch gesture. For example,the electronic device cancels processing of the touch gesture by aparticular gesture recognizer to allow another gesture recognizer toprocess the touch gesture.

In some embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., client device 104)determines whether a detected touch gesture is a continuous gesture inaccordance with a contact time of the detected touch gesture. Forexample, the electronic device determines that the detected touchgesture is a continuous gesture when the touch gesture has been detectedon a touch-sensitive surface for a predefined time period (e.g., 0.3,0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 seconds) or more. In another example,the electronic device determines that the detected touch gesture is adiscrete gesture when the touch gesture has been detected on atouch-sensitive surface for less than the predefined time period.

FIGS. 6A-6E are flow diagrams illustrating a method 600 of processingtouch-based gestures on an electronic device, such as a client device104, in accordance with some embodiments. The method identifiesdirectional pan gestures and increases accuracy in gesture recognition,thereby reducing errors, increasing efficiency, increasing the deviceresponsiveness, and improving the user experience.

FIGS. 6A-6E correspond to instructions stored in a computer memory orcomputer readable storage medium (e.g., memory 306). The computer memoryor computer readable storage medium stores one or more programs.

The device displays (602) a first user interface of a softwareapplication (e.g., the user interface shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C). Thesoftware application has a hierarchy of user interfaces (e.g., a viewhierarchy of section images and story thumbnails). The first userinterface is associated with at least a first pan gesture recognizer anda second pan gesture recognizer (e.g., a pan gesture recognizer 346-1and a pan gesture recognizer 346-2, FIG. 3). The first pan gesturerecognizer (e.g., a horizontal pan gesture recognizer) is configured torecognize a pan gesture that has an initial direction along a first axis(e.g., a horizontal axis) on the touch-sensitive surface in a pluralityof predefined axes (e.g., a horizontal axis and a vertical axis) and/ora first direction (e.g., left or right) on the touch-sensitive surfacein a plurality of predefined directions (e.g., left, right, up, anddown). The second pan gesture recognizer (e.g., a vertical pan gesturerecognizer) is configured to recognize a pan gesture that has an initialdirection along a second axis (e.g., a vertical axis) on thetouch-sensitive surface in the plurality of predefined axes and/or asecond direction (e.g., upward or downward) on the touch-sensitivesurface distinct from the first direction, in the plurality ofpredefined directions.

As used herein, a pan gesture refers to a continuous touch gesture thatis detected on the touch-sensitive surface over at least a predefinedtime interval. In some embodiments, a pan gesture includes a touch-downevent, multiple touch-moved events, and a touch-up event. As usedherein, a pan gesture is distinct from a swipe gesture because a pangesture is a continuous gesture, whereas a swipe gesture is a discretegesture. A pan gesture, being continuous, causes a pan gesturerecognizer to keep sending action messages (e.g., touch-moved events)until the pan gesture ends. In contrast, a swipe gesture, beingdiscrete, causes a swipe gesture recognizer to send a single actionmessage (e.g., an action message indicating that the swipe gesture hasbeen “Recognized”). Thus, a swipe gesture recognizer does not provide anaction message that indicates changes in a direction of a detected touchgesture.

In some embodiments, the plurality of predefined axes includes avertical axis on the touch-sensitive surface and a horizontal axis onthe touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitivesurface is on the display; in other words, the display is atouch-sensitive display. In some embodiments, the plurality ofpredefined directions includes left, right, up, and down.

As used herein, an initial direction refers to a representative (e.g.,average) direction of translation of a touch within a predefineddistance and/or within a predefined time after initial contact of thetouch with the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the initialdirection is determined based on a measured initial movement of a touchacross the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the initialdirection is determined based on a measured velocity of the touch acrossthe touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the initial directionis determined based on both the measured initial movement and themeasured velocity.

In some embodiments, the first pan gesture recognizer is configured torecognize (604) a pan gesture that has an initial direction along thefirst axis and the second pan gesture recognizer is configured torecognize a pan gesture that has an initial direction along the secondaxis, distinct from the first axis. In other words, in some embodiments,the first pan gesture recognizer and the second pan gesture recognizerare constrained to recognize pan gestures along different axes. In someembodiments, the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. Forexample, the first pan gesture recognizer is configured to recognize apan gesture that has an initial direction along a horizontal axis (e.g.,a left pan gesture or a right pan gesture) and the second pan gesturerecognizer is configured to recognize a pan gesture that has an initialdirection along a vertical axis (e.g., an upward pan gesture or adownward pan gesture).

In some embodiments, the first pan gesture recognizer is configured torecognize (606) a pan gesture that has an initial direction along thefirst direction and the second pan gesture recognizer is configured torecognize a pan gesture that has an initial direction along the seconddirection, distinct from the first direction. In other words, in someembodiments, the first pan gesture recognizer and the second pan gesturerecognizer are constrained to recognize pan gestures along differentdirections. For example, the first pan gesture recognizer is configuredto recognize a pan gesture that has an initial upward direction and thesecond pan gesture recognizer is configured to recognize a pan gesturethat has an initial downward direction. In another example, the firstpan gesture recognizer is configured to recognize a pan gesture that hasan initial upward direction and the second pan gesture recognizer isconfigured to recognize a pan gesture that has an initial rightwarddirection. However, the first pan gesture recognizer that is configuredto recognize a pan gesture that has an initial upward direction does notrecognize a pan gesture that has an initial downward direction.Similarly, the second pan gesture recognizer that is configured torecognize a pan gesture that has an initial rightward direction does notrecognize a pan gesture that has an initial leftward direction.

In some embodiments, the first user interface includes (608) a pluralityof views; and the first pan gesture recognizer and the second pangesture recognizer are attached to a same view of the plurality ofviews. For example, a horizontal pan gesture recognizer and a verticalpan gesture recognizer are attached to a particular view so that both ahorizontal pan gesture and a vertical pan gesture on the particular viewcan be recognized (e.g., a horizontal pan gesture 409 on a section image404-1 in FIGS. 4F-4G and a vertical pan gesture 411 on the section image404-1 in FIGS. 4H-4I). In some embodiments, all pan gesture recognizersof the software application are attached to a same view.

In some embodiments, the first user interface includes (610) a pluralityof views; and the first pan gesture recognizer is attached to a firstview of the plurality of views and the second pan gesture recognizer isattached to a second view of the plurality of views, distinct from thefirst view. For example, a horizontal pan gesture recognizer is attachedto the section image 404-1 to recognize a horizontal pan gesture 409 asillustrated in FIGS. 4F-4G and a vertical pan gesture recognizer isattached to a thumbnail image 406-1 to recognize a vertical pan gestureas illustrated in FIGS. 4C-4E.

The device detects (612) a first pan gesture (e.g., a horizontal pangesture 409, FIG. 4F) on the touch-sensitive surface while displayingthe first user interface. The first pan gesture has an initial direction(e.g., leftward) across the touch-sensitive surface.

The device, while detecting the first pan gesture on the touch-sensitivesurface, identifies (614), between the first pan gesture recognizer andthe second pan gesture recognizer, a pan gesture recognizer that isconfigured to recognize the first pan gesture based at least on theinitial direction of the first pan gesture. For example, the deviceidentifies that, between a horizontal pan gesture recognizer and avertical pan gesture recognizer, the horizontal pan gesture recognizeris configured to recognize the horizontal pan gesture 409.

The device processes (616) the first pan gesture using the identifiedpan gesture recognizer. For example, the horizontal pan gesturerecognizer recognizes the horizontal pan gesture 409 and sends an actionmessage to initiate a change to the user interface (e.g., the sectionimages and associated story thumbnail images are replaced, FIGS. 4F-4G).

In some embodiments, after identifying the pan gesture recognizer thatis configured to recognize the first pan gesture, the device detects(618) a movement, of the first pan gesture across the touch-sensitivesurface, that is perpendicular to the initial direction (e.g., when theinitial direction is vertical, a subsequent movement is horizontal ordiagonal so that the subsequent movement includes a horizontalmovement). Processing the first pan gesture includes processing themovement, of the first pan gesture, that is perpendicular to the initialdirection using the identified pan gesture recognizer. In someembodiments, processing the first pan gesture includes moving a userinterface element in accordance with a movement of the first pan gesturethat is perpendicular to the initial direction. For example, in FIGS.4L-4N, after an initial downward movement of a touch from the location415-1, the touch continues to move in a diagonal direction and thumbnailimages 406-1 and 406-2 are scrolled horizontally in accordance with ahorizontal movement of the touch.

In some embodiments, the first pan gesture recognizer has (620) atolerance value (e.g., threshold angle, a threshold ratio of ahorizontal movement to a vertical movement, or a threshold distance in aperpendicular direction). The device determines whether a component ofan initial movement of the first pan gesture, the component being in adirection perpendicular to the first axis or the first direction,satisfies one or more predefined criteria that are based on thetolerance value (e.g., a vertical component of the initial movement ofthe first pan gesture is less than the predefined criteria, such as apredefined distance or a predefined angle). For example, as shown inFIG. 4A, for a horizontal gesture recognizer, the device determineswhether an angle formed by an initial direction 492 of the horizontalpan gesture 405 and a reference axis 490 (e.g., a horizontal axis) iswithin an angle formed by a predefined threshold direction 494 and thereference axis 490. The device, in accordance with determining that thecomponent of the initial movement of the first pan gesture satisfies theone or more predefined criteria that are based on the tolerance value,recognizes the first pan gesture with the first pan gesture recognizer.For example, the horizontal gesture recognizer enters the “Began” state(FIG. 5D). Alternatively, in accordance with determining that thecomponent of the initial movement of the first pan gesture does notsatisfy the one or more predefined criteria that are based on thetolerance value, the horizontal gesture recognizer enters the “Failed”state (FIG. 5D).

In some embodiments, the software application is configured to access(622) a hierarchy of content items. The hierarchy of content itemsincludes at least a first parent content item (e.g., a content section)and a plurality of child content items of the first parent content item(e.g., stories in the content section). For example, the hierarchy ofcontent items in FIG. 5B includes a content section, Section 1, andchild content items under the content section, Story 1, Story 2, Story3, and Story 4. The first user interface includes a concurrent displayof a first image that represents the first parent content item and afirst set of thumbnail images that correspond to two or more childcontent items of the plurality of child content items of the firstparent content item (e.g., the image 404-1 that represents Section 1 andthumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3 that correspond to stories inSection 1, FIG. 4A). In some embodiments, the first user interface doesnot concurrently display thumbnail images that correspond to any childcontent item, other than the two or more child content items, of theplurality of child content items (e.g., not all of the plurality ofchild content times are displayed). The first pan gesture (e.g., ahorizontal pan gesture 405, FIG. 4A) is detected initially at alocation, on the touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to arespective thumbnail image (e.g., a reduced-scale image of a respectivechild content item) of the first set of thumbnail images. The devicedetermines an initial direction of the first pan gesture. The device, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the firstpan gesture is horizontal, replaces, using the first pan gesturerecognizer, a display of the first set of thumbnail images with adisplay of a second set of thumbnail images that correspond to two ormore child content items of the plurality of child content items (e.g.,FIG. 4B). The thumbnail images in the first set are distinct from thethumbnail images in the second set (e.g., story thumbnail images arescrolled). In some embodiments, at least one thumbnail image in thefirst set is not included in the second set (e.g., the thumbnail image406-1 in FIG. 4A is not shown in FIG. 4B). In some embodiments, at leastone thumbnail image in the second set is not included in the first set(e.g., the thumbnail image 406-4 in FIG. 4B is not shown in FIG. 4A). Insome embodiments, the second set of thumbnail images is displayedconcurrently with the first parent content item (e.g., in FIG. 4B, thethumbnail images 406-2, 406-3, and 406-4 are displayed concurrently withthe image 404-1). In some embodiments, the first set of thumbnail imagesceases to be displayed. In some embodiments, the second set of thumbnailimages is displayed without displaying any thumbnail image, other thanthe thumbnail images in the second set, that corresponds to theplurality of child content items (e.g., not all of the thumbnail imagesthat correspond to the plurality of child content items are displayed).On the other hand, in accordance with a determination that the initialdirection of the first pan gesture is vertical (e.g., up), the devicereplaces, using the second pan gesture recognizer, the first userinterface with a second user interface that includes at least a portionof a child content item that corresponds to the respective thumbnailimage (e.g., a story corresponding to the selected thumbnail image isdisplayed). For example, in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of a pan gesture in FIG. 4C is vertical (rather thanhorizontal, as in FIG. 4A), the user interface in FIG. 4C is replacedwith the user interface in FIG. 4E. In some embodiments, the first userinterface ceases to be displayed (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4C isnot shown in FIG. 4E). In some embodiments, the second user interface isdisplayed without displaying the first image that represents the firstparent content item (e.g., the image 404-1 is not shown in FIG. 4E). Insome embodiments, the second user interface is displayed withoutdisplaying any child content item of the parent content item other thanthe child content item that corresponds to the respective thumbnailimage (e.g., no other thumbnail images are displayed). In someembodiments, the device displays an animation that transitions therespective thumbnail image in the first user interface to thecorresponding child content item in the second user interface (e.g., bymoving the respective thumbnail image upward and concurrently expandingthe respective thumbnail image to fill the second user interface withthe corresponding child content item, such as illustrated in FIGS.4C-4E). Thus, the respective thumbnail image in the first userinterface, which has a reduced scale relative to the corresponding childcontent item in the second user interface, enlarges and becomes thecorresponding child content item in the second user interface (e.g.,FIGS. 4C-4E).

In some embodiments, the hierarchy of content items includes (624) asecond parent content item (e.g., Section 2 in FIG. 5B), distinct fromthe first parent content item, and a plurality of child content items ofthe second parent content item (e.g., Story 5, Story 6, and Story 7 inFIG. 5B). The device detects a second pan gesture initially at alocation, on the touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to the firstimage that represents the first parent content it (e.g., the pan gesture409, FIG. 4F). The device determines an initial direction of the secondpan gesture. The device, in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of the second pan gesture is horizontal, replaces thefirst user interface with a third user interface that includes aconcurrent display of a second image that represents the second parentcontent item and a set of thumbnail images that correspond to two ormore child content items of the plurality of child content items of thesecond parent content item (e.g., the section image is scrolled out andstory thumbnail images are scrolled accordingly). For example, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the pangesture 409 is horizontal, the device replaces the user interface inFIG. 4F with the user interface in FIG. 4G. In some embodiments, thefirst user interface ceases to be displayed. In some embodiments, thethird user interface is displayed without displaying the first parentcontent item or the first image (e.g., in FIG. 4G, the image 404-1 isnot displayed). In some embodiments, the third user interface isdisplayed without displaying thumbnail images that correspond to anychild content item of the first parent content item (e.g., in FIG. 4G,the thumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, 406-3, and 406-4 are not displayed).In some embodiments, the second image that represents the second parentcontent item replaces the first image that represents the first parentcontent item on the display and the set of thumbnail images thatcorrespond to two or more child content items of the plurality of childcontent items of the second parent content item replaces the set ofthumbnail images that correspond to two or more child content items ofthe plurality of child content items of the first parent content item onthe display. For example, in FIG. 4G, the image 404-2 replaces the image404-1 in FIG. 4F and the thumbnail images 406-5, 406-6, and 406-7replace the thumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3 in FIG. 4F.

In some embodiments, the first image that represents the first parentcontent item is selected (626) from images in the plurality of childcontent items of the first parent content item. For example, in FIG. 4G,the image that represents Section 2 is selected from an image in Story6, which is a child content item of Section 2.

In some embodiments, the hierarchy of content items includes (628) asecond parent content item (e.g., Section 2 in FIG. 5B), distinct fromthe first parent content item, and a plurality of child content items ofthe second parent content item (e.g., Story 5, Story 6, and Story 7 inFIG. 5B). The device detects a second pan gesture initially at alocation, on the touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to the firstimage that represents the first parent content item (e.g., the pangesture 409, FIG. 4F). The device determines an initial direction of thesecond pan gesture. The device, in accordance with a determination thatthe initial direction of the second pan gesture is horizontal, replacesthe first user interface with a third user interface that includes aconcurrent display of a second image that represents the second parentcontent item and a set of thumbnail images that correspond to two ormore child content items of the plurality of child content items of thesecond parent content item. For example, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the pan gesture 409 (FIG.4F) is horizontal, the device replaces the user interface in FIG. 4Fwith the user interface in FIG. 4G. On the other hand, in accordancewith a determination that the initial direction of the second pangesture is vertical (e.g., downward), the device displays a userinterface for the software application that includes a search input area(e.g., for searching within the software application). For example, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the pangesture 411 (FIG. 4H) (rather than horizontal gesture 409, FIG. 4F) isdownward, the device replaces the user interface in FIG. 4H with theuser interface in FIG. 4I. In some embodiments, the first user interfaceslides down to reveal the user interface with the search input area. Insome embodiments, a portion of the first user interface remainsdisplayed (e.g., the portion 422 at the bottom of the display, FIG. 4I)while the user interface with the search input area is displayed, and aninput on the portion of the first user interface that remains displayed(e.g., a tap gesture) causes the device to cease to display the userinterface with the search input area and redisplay the entire first userinterface. For example, a tap gesture on the portion 422 causes thedevice to cease to display the user interface in FIG. 4I and display theuser interface in FIG. 4H. In some embodiments, the user interfaceincludes (in addition to or in place of the search input area): apredefined area (e.g., area 414 with the user name “John Smith” in FIG.4I) that when activated (e.g., with a tap gesture in the area) initiatesdisplay of a home page for a user of the software application; apredefined area (e.g., area 416 with the label “Create Post” in FIG. 4I)that when activated (e.g., with a tap gesture in the area) initiatesdisplay of a user interface for posting a message in the softwareapplication; a predefined area (e.g., area 418 with the label “EditSections” in FIG. 4I) that when activated (e.g., with a tap gesture inthe area) initiates display of a user interface for editing the parentcontent items in the hierarchy of content items that are displayed inthe software application; and/or a predefined area (e.g., area 420 withthe label “Settings” in FIG. 4I) that when activated (e.g., with a tapgesture in the area) initiates display of a user interface for adjustingsettings in the software application.

In some embodiments, the software application is configured to access(630) a hierarchy of content items. The hierarchy of content itemsincludes at least a parent content item (e.g., a content section, suchas Section 1, FIG. 5B) and a plurality of child content items of theparent content item (e.g., stories in the content section, such as Story1, Story 2, Story 3, and Story 4, FIG. 5B). The first user interfaceincludes a display of at least a portion of a first child content itemof the plurality of child content items without displaying the parentcontent item or any child content item, other than the first childcontent item, of the plurality of child content items (e.g., the userinterface in FIG. 4J includes a full-screen-width image 408-1 for Story1 without an image that corresponds to a parent content item, such asthe image 404-1, or a full-screen-width image or a thumbnail image forany other child content item). The device determines the initialdirection of the first pan gesture. The device, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the first pan gesture ishorizontal, replaces, using the first pan gesture recognizer, the firstuser interface with a second user interface that includes a display ofat least a portion of a second child content item without displaying theparent content item or any child content item, other than the secondchild content item, of the plurality of child content items (e.g., anext story is displayed). For example, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the pan gesture 413 (FIG.4J) is horizontal, the device replaces the user interface in FIG. 4Jwith the user interface in FIG. 4K. The user interface in FIG. 4Kincludes a full-screen-width image 408-2 for Story 2 without an imagethat corresponds to the parent content item (e.g., the image 404-1) or afull-screen-width image or a thumbnail image for any other child contentitem. In some embodiments, the first user interface ceases to bedisplayed. On the other hand, in accordance with a determination thatthe initial direction of the first pan gesture is vertical (e.g.,downward), the device replaces, using the second pan gesture recognizer,the first user interface with a third user interface that includes aconcurrent display of an image that represents the parent content itemand a set of thumbnail images that correspond to two or more childcontent items of the plurality of child content items of the parentcontent item (e.g., the device displays the section view, rather than astory view). For example, in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of the pan gesture 415 illustrated in FIGS. 4L-4N isdownward (rather than horizontal as for pan gesture 413 in FIG. 4J), thedevice replaces the user interface in FIG. 4L with the user interface inFIG. 4O. In some embodiments, the device displays an animation thattransitions the first child content item in the first user interface toa corresponding thumbnail image in the third user interface (e.g., bymoving the first child content item downward and concurrently shrinkingthe first child content item to the corresponding thumbnail image in thethird user interface as illustrated in FIGS. 4L-4N). Thus, the firstchild content item in the first user interface shrinks and becomes thecorresponding thumbnail image in the third user interface, which has areduced scale relative to the first child content item in the first userinterface (e.g., FIGS. 4L-4N).

In some embodiments, the set of thumbnail images includes (632) a firstthumbnail image that corresponds to the first child content item. Thedevice, subsequent to the determination that the initial direction ofthe first pan gesture is vertical, detects a movement, of the first pangesture across the touch-sensitive surface, that is in a non-verticaldirection. For example, the device detects an initially vertical gesture415 (FIG. 4L) and a subsequent non-vertical (e.g., diagonal) movement ofthe touch gesture 415 (FIGS. 4M-4N). The device, in response todetecting the movement, of the first pan gesture across thetouch-sensitive surface, that is in a non-vertical direction, moves thefirst thumbnail image in a horizontal direction in accordance with ahorizontal movement of the first pan gesture across the touch-sensitivesurface (e.g., the device moves the thumbnail image 406-1 horizontallyin accordance with a horizontal movement of the pan gesture, FIGS.4M-4O).

In some embodiments, the device, while displaying the second userinterface, detects (634) a touch input on the second child content item(e.g., a tap gesture or a vertically upward swipe gesture on an icon inthe second child content item). For example, while displaying the userinterface in FIG. 4P, a tap gesture is detected on the user interfaceicon 424. In some embodiments, the touch input is detected afterdetecting the first pan gesture and determining that the initialdirection of the first pan gesture is horizontal. The device, inresponse to detecting the touch input on the second child content item,replaces the second user interface with a fourth user interface thatprovides additional information in the second content item. For example,an animation transforms the icon (e.g., the user interface icon 424) inthe second child content item to a user interface that is scrollable(e.g., via vertical pan gestures) to display additional portions of thesecond child content item (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4Q). Thedevice, while displaying the fourth user interface, detects a touchinput on the second child content item. For example, a verticallydownward swipe gesture (e.g., the gesture 419, FIG. 4Q) is detected on auser interface icon in the fourth user interface. The device, inresponse to detecting the touch input on the second child content item,replaces the fourth user interface (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4Q)with the second user interface (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4P).For example, an animation transforms the user interface that isscrollable to display additional portions of the second child contentitem (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4Q) back to the icon in thesecond child content item (e.g., the user interface icon 424 in FIG.4P). In some embodiments, the fourth user interface includes a userinterface icon (e.g., an downward arrow icon 434, FIG. 4Q) that isdisplayed on top of the second child content item. In some embodiments,the downward arrow icon is displayed on top of the second child contentitem in response to detecting a downward pan gesture on the second childcontent item. The device, in response to detecting a touch input on theuser interface icon (e.g., the downward arrow icon 434, FIG. 4Q),replaces the fourth user interface with the second user interface.

In some embodiments, the software application is configured to access(636) a hierarchy of content items. The hierarchy of content itemsincludes at least a parent content item (e.g., a story, such as Story 1in FIG. 5B) and a plurality of child content items (e.g., photos in thestory, such as Photo 1 and Photo 2 in FIG. 5B) of the parent contentitem. The first user interface includes a display of at least a portionof a first child content item of the plurality of child content itemswithout displaying the parent content item or any child content item,other than the first child content item, of the plurality of childcontent items. For example, the user interface in FIG. 4T includes thephoto 410-1 without displaying the full-screen-width image 408-1 or anyother photo (e.g., the photo 410-2) in Story 1. The device determinesthe initial direction of the first pan gesture. The device, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the firstpan gesture is horizontal, replaces, using the first pan gesturerecognizer, the first user interface with a second user interface thatincludes a display of a second child content item without displaying theparent content item or any child content item, other than the secondchild content item, of the plurality of child content items (e.g., anext photo is displayed). For example, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the pan gesture 423 ishorizontal, the device replaces the user interface in FIG. 4T thatincludes the photo 410-1 with the user interface in FIG. 4U thatincludes the photo 410-2. In some embodiments, the first child contentitem ceases to be displayed. On the other hand, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the first pan gesture isvertical (e.g., downward), the device replaces, using the second pangesture recognizer, the first user interface with a third user interfacethat includes at least a portion of the parent content item (e.g., thestory is displayed). For example, in accordance with a determinationthat the initial direction of the pan gesture in FIG. 4V is downward(rather than horizontal, as in FIG. 4T), the device replaces the userinterface in FIG. 4V with a user interface in FIG. 4X that includes atleast a portion of the full-screen-width image 408-1 of Story 1. In someembodiments, the first user interface ceases to be displayed. In someembodiments, the third user interface includes at least a portion of thefirst child content item (e.g., at least a portion of the photo 410-1 inits full or reduced scale is displayed). In some embodiments, the thirduser interface includes at least a portion of the second child contentitem (e.g., a portion of the photo 410-2 in its full or reduced scale isdisplayed).

In some embodiments, while the first pan gesture is detected on thetouch-sensitive surface, after determining that the initial direction ofthe first pan gesture is vertical, the device displays (638) at least aportion of the parent content item (e.g., the full-screen-width image408-1) overlaid by the first child content item (e.g., the photo 410-1),and moves the first child content item in accordance with the first pangesture (e.g., the photo 410-1 moves in accordance with the pan gesturein FIGS. 4V-4W). The device determines that the first pan gesture hasceased to be detected on the touch-sensitive surface; and, in responseto determining that the first pan gesture has ceased to be detected onthe touch-sensitive surface, replaces the first user interface with thethird user interface (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4V is replacedwith the user interface in FIG. 4X).

In some embodiments, the software application is configured to access(640) a hierarchy of content items. The hierarchy of content itemsincludes at least first and second content items (e.g., Story 1 andStory 2, FIG. 5B). The first user interface includes a display of atleast a portion of a first content item overlaid by a popover view. Forexample, in FIG. 4Z, a full-screen-width image of Story 2 is overlaid bya comments popover view 436. The device determines the initial directionof the first pan gesture. The device, in accordance with a determinationthat the initial direction of the first pan gesture is horizontal,replaces, using the first pan gesture recognizer, the first userinterface with a display of at least a portion of a second content itemwithout displaying the first content item or the popover view (e.g., anext story is displayed). For example, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the pan gesture 429 in FIG.4Z is horizontal, the device replaces the user interface in FIG. 4Z withthe user interface in FIG. 4AA. On the other hand, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the first pan gesture isvertical, the device ceases to display, using the second pan gesturerecognizer, the popover view. For example, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the pan gesture 431 in FIG.4BB is downward (rather than horizontal, as for gesture 429 in FIG. 4Z),the device dismisses the comments popover over 436 and displays thefull-screen-width image 408-2 of Story 2, without displaying thecomments popover view 436, in FIG. 4CC.

In some embodiments, the software application is configured to access(642) a hierarchy of content items. The hierarchy of content itemsincludes at least a parent content item (e.g., a section, such asSection 1 in FIG. 5B) and a plurality of child content items (e.g.,stories in the section, such as Story 1, Story 2, Story 3, and Story 4in FIG. 5B) of the parent content item, the plurality of child contentitems being in a sequence. The first user interface includes a displayof a first child content item in the sequence of child content items,without displaying the parent content item. The first pan gesture isdetected while the first child content item in the sequence of childcontent items is displayed. The device determines the initial directionof the first pan gesture. The device, in accordance with a determinationthat the initial direction of the first pan gesture is downward,displays a representation of the parent content item (e.g., a thumbnailimage or a representative image). For example, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the pan gesture 415 in FIG.4L is downward, the device displays the image 404-1 in FIG. 4M. In someembodiments, the first user interface ceases to be displayed. In someembodiments, the display of the representation of the parent contentitem does not include display of the child content item. In someembodiments, the display of the representation of the parent contentitem includes a thumbnail image that corresponds to the child contentitem (e.g., the thumbnail image 406-1 that corresponds to Story 1, FIG.4N).

Some of the features discussed above with respect to the method 600 areapplicable to method 700 in an analogous manner. For brevity, thesedetails are not repeated below.

FIGS. 7A-7D are flow diagrams illustrating a method 700 of navigating ina software application (e.g., a social networking application) via touchgestures in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 7A-7D correspond toinstructions stored in a computer memory or computer readable storagemedium (e.g., memory 206). The method uses pan gestures to navigate in asoftware application. For example, a user can use various pan gesturesto easily move between content items (e.g., stories) in a single contentsection, between individual stories and multiple stories and arepresentative image of the content section, and between differentcontent sections. These methods reduce the time spent navigating througha large number of content items to find the desired content, therebyproviding a more efficient human-machine interface and reducing powerconsumption by the electronic device.

The device displays (702) a first user interface of a softwareapplication (e.g., the user interface shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C for asocial networking application). The software application is configuredto access a hierarchy of content items (e.g., the hierarchy in FIG. 5B).The hierarchy of content items includes at least a first parent contentitem (e.g., Section 1, FIG. 5B) and a plurality of child content itemsof the first parent content item (e.g., Story 1, Story 2, Story 3, andStory 4, FIG. 5B). The first user interface includes a concurrentdisplay of a first image that represents the first parent content item(e.g., the image 404-1, FIG. 4A or 4C) and a first set of thumbnailimages that correspond to two or more child content items of theplurality of child content items of the first parent content item (e.g.,thumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3, FIG. 4A or 4C).

The device detects (704) a first pan gesture initially at a location, onthe touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to a respective thumbnailimage of the first set of thumbnail images (e.g., pan gesture 405, FIG.4A or pan gesture 407, FIG. 4C).

The device determines (706) an initial direction of the first pangesture.

The device, in accordance with a determination that the initialdirection of the first pan gesture is horizontal (e.g., pan gesture 405,FIG. 4A), replaces (708) a display of the first set of thumbnail imageswith a display of a second set of thumbnail images that correspond totwo or more child content items of the plurality of child content items(e.g., a set of the thumbnail images 406-1, 406-2, and 406-3 in FIG. 4Ais replaced with a set of the thumbnail images 406-2, 406-3, and 406-4in FIG. 4B). The thumbnail images in the first set are distinct from thethumbnail images in the second set.

On the other hand, in accordance with a determination that the initialdirection of the first pan gesture is vertical (e.g., upward pan gesture407 in FIG. 4C, rather than pan gesture 405 in FIG. 4A), the devicereplaces (710) the first user interface with a second user interfacethat includes at least a portion of a child content item thatcorresponds to the respective thumbnail image (e.g., the user interfacein FIG. 4C is replaced with the user interface in FIG. 4E).

In some embodiments, the hierarchy of content items includes (712) asecond parent content item (e.g., Section 2 in FIG. 5B), distinct fromthe first parent content item, and a plurality of child content items ofthe second parent content item (e.g., Story 5, Story 6, and Story 7 inFIG. 5B). The device detects a second pan gesture (e.g., pan gesture409, FIG. 4F) initially at a location, on the touch-sensitive surface,that corresponds to the first image that represents the first parentcontent item (e.g., the image 404-1, FIG. 4F). The device determines aninitial direction of the second pan gesture. The device, in accordancewith a determination that the initial direction of the second pangesture is horizontal, replaces the first user interface with a thirduser interface that includes a concurrent display of a second image thatrepresents the second parent content item and a set of thumbnail imagesthat correspond to two or more child content items of the plurality ofchild content items of the second parent content item (e.g., the userinterface in FIG. 4F is replaced with a user interface in FIG. 4G).

In some embodiments, the first image that represents the first parentcontent item is selected (714) from images in the plurality of childcontent items of the first parent content item. Similarly, in someembodiments, the second image that represents the second parent contentitem is selected from images in the plurality of child content items ofthe second parent content item. For example, in FIG. 4G, the image 404-2that represents Section 2 is selected from an image in Story 6, which isa child content item of Section 2.

In some embodiments, the hierarchy of content items includes (716) asecond parent content item (e.g., Section 2 in FIG. 5B), distinct fromthe first parent content item, and a plurality of child content items ofthe second parent content item (e.g., Story 5, Story 6, and Story 7 inFIG. 5B). The device detects a second pan gesture (e.g., pan gesture409, FIG. 4F or pan gesture 411, FIG. 4H) initially at a location, onthe touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to the first image thatrepresents the first parent content item. The device determines aninitial direction of the second pan gesture. The device, in accordancewith a determination that the initial direction of the second pangesture is horizontal (e.g., pan gesture 409, FIG. 4F), replaces thefirst user interface with a third user interface that includes aconcurrent display of a second image that represents the second parentcontent item and a set of thumbnail images that correspond to two ormore child content items of the plurality of child content items of thesecond parent content item (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4F isreplaced with the user interface in FIG. 4G). On the other hand, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the secondpan gesture is vertical (e.g., pan gesture 411, FIG. 4H), the devicedisplays a user interface for the software application that includes asearch input area (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4H is replaced witha user interface in FIG. 4I in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of the pan gesture 411 is downward).

In some embodiments, the second user interface (e.g., the user interfaceshown in FIGS. 4E, 4J, and 4L) includes (718) a display of at least aportion of a first child content item of the plurality of child contentitems without displaying the first parent content item or any childcontent item, other than the first child content item, of the pluralityof child content items (e.g., at least a portion of thefull-screen-width image 408-1 is displayed without the image 404-1 inFIG. 4J). The device detects a second pan gesture (e.g., the pan gesture413, FIG. 4J or pan gesture 415, FIG. 4L), and determines an initialdirection of the second pan gesture. The device, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the second pan gesture ishorizontal (e.g., pan gesture 413, FIG. 4J), replaces the second userinterface with a third user interface that includes a display of atleast a portion of a second child content item without displaying theparent content item or any child content item, other than the secondchild content item, of the plurality of child content items (e.g., theuser interface in FIG. 4J is replaced with the user interface in FIG.4K). On the other hand, in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of the second pan gesture is vertical (e.g., pangesture 415, FIG. 4L), the device replaces the second user interfacewith a fourth user interface that includes a concurrent display of animage that represents the first parent content item and a set ofthumbnail images that correspond to two or more child content items ofthe plurality of child content items of the first parent content item(e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4L is replaced with the user interfacein FIG. 4O in accordance with the initially downward pan gesture 415illustrated in FIGS. 4L-4N).

In some embodiments, the set of thumbnail images in the fourth userinterface (e.g., FIG. 4O) includes (720) the respective thumbnail image(e.g., the thumbnail image 406-1 that corresponds to the first childcontent item, Story 1). The device, subsequent to the determination thatthe initial direction of the second pan gesture is vertical (e.g., pangesture 415, FIG. 4L), detects a movement, of the second pan gestureacross the touch-sensitive surface, that is in a non-vertical direction(e.g., a diagonal movement in pan gesture 415, as shown in FIGS. 4M and4N). The device, in response to detecting the movement, of the secondpan gesture across the touch-sensitive surface, that is in anon-vertical direction, moves the respective thumbnail image in ahorizontal direction in accordance with a horizontal movement of thesecond pan gesture across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., thethumbnail image 406-1 moves horizontally in accordance with thehorizontal component of movement of the pan gesture 415).

In some embodiments, while displaying the third user interface (e.g.,the user interface in FIGS. 4K, 4P, and 4R), the device detects (722) atouch input on the second child content item (e.g., a tap gesture 417 inFIG. 4P), and, in response to detecting the touch input on the secondchild content item, the device replaces the third user interface with afifth user interface that provides additional information in the secondcontent item (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4P is replaced with theuser interface in FIG. 4Q). While displaying the fifth user interface,the device detects a touch input on an icon (e.g., in FIG. 4Q, a tapgesture on icon 434 or a downward swipe or pan gesture 419 that startson icon 434); and, in response to detecting the touch input on the icon,the device replaces the fourth user interface with the third userinterface (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4Q is replaced with the userinterface in FIG. 4R).

In some embodiments, the device displays (724) a third user interfacethat includes at least a portion of a first grandchild content of thefirst parent content item (e.g., the user interface with photo 410-1 inFIG. 4T) without displaying the first parent content item, any childcontent item of the first parent content item, or any grandchild contentitem, other than the first grandchild content item, of a plurality ofgrandchild content items of the first parent content item. The devicedetects a second pan gesture (e.g., pan gesture 423, FIG. 4T or pangesture 425, FIG. 4V), and determines an initial direction of the secondpan gesture. The device, in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of the second pan gesture is horizontal (e.g., pangesture 423, FIG. 4T), replaces the third user interface with a fourthuser interface that includes a display of a second grandchild contentitem of the first parent content item without displaying the firstparent content item, any child content item of the first parent contentitem, or any grandchild content item, other than the second grandchildcontent item, of the plurality of grandchild content items of the firstparent content item (e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4T is replacedwith the user interface in FIG. 4U). The first grandchild content itemand the second grandchild content item are child content items of a samechild content item of the first parent content item. On the other hand,in accordance with a determination that the initial direction of thesecond pan gesture is vertical (e.g., pan gesture 425, FIG. 4V), thedevice replaces the third user interface with a fifth user interfacethat includes at least a portion of the child content item (e.g., theuser interface in FIG. 4V is replaced with the user interface in FIG. 4Xin accordance with the pan gesture 425 illustrated in FIGS. 4V-4X).

In some embodiments, while the second pan gesture is detected on thetouch-sensitive surface, after determining that the initial direction ofthe second pan gesture is vertical (e.g., pan gesture 425, FIG. 4V), thedevice displays (726) at least a portion of the child content itemoverlaid by the first grandchild content item, and moves the firstgrandchild content item in accordance with the second pan gesture. Forexample, in FIG. 4W, at least a portion of the child content item (e.g.,the full-screen-width image 408-1) is displayed after determining thatthe initial direction of the pan gesture 425 in FIG. 4V is vertical. Theportion of the child content item (e.g., the full-screen-width image408-1) is overlaid with the photo 410-1, and the photo 410-1 is moved inaccordance with the pan gesture 425. The device determines that thesecond pan gesture (e.g., pan gesture 425) has ceased to be detected onthe touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to determining that thesecond pan gesture has ceased to be detected on the touch-sensitivesurface, replaces the third user interface with the fifth user interface(e.g., the user interface in FIG. 4X is displayed).

In some embodiments, the hierarchy of content items includes (728) atleast a first content item and a second content item (e.g., afull-screen-width image 408-2 in FIG. 4Y and a full-screen-width image408-1 in FIGS. 4X and 4AA). The device displays a third user interfacethat includes a display of at least a portion of the first content itemoverlaid by a popover view (e.g., the full-screen-width image 408-2 isoverlaid by a comments popover view 436 in FIGS. 4Z and 4BB). The devicedetects a second pan gesture (e.g., pan gesture 429, FIG. 4Z or pangesture 431, FIG. 4BB), and determines an initial direction of thesecond pan gesture. The device, in accordance with a determination thatthe initial direction of the second pan gesture is horizontal (e.g., pangesture 429, FIG. 4Z), replaces the third user interface with a displayof at least a portion of a second content item without displaying thefirst content item or the popover view (e.g., the user interface in FIG.4Z is replaced with the user interface in FIG. 4AA). On the other hand,in accordance with a determination that the initial direction of thesecond pan gesture is vertical (e.g., pan gesture 431, FIG. 4BB), thedevice ceases to display the popover view (e.g., in accordance with thedownward pan gesture 431 in FIG. 4BB, the comments popover view 436 isno longer displayed in FIG. 4CC).

It should be noted that some of the operations described above may beperformed without performing all of the above-described operations.Examples are described below. Some of the features discussed above withrespect to the method 600 and the method 700 are applicable to thefollowing operations in an analogous manner. For brevity, these detailsare not repeated below.

In some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic devicehaving a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, andmemory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the oneor more processors. The method includes displaying a first userinterface of a software application. The software application isconfigured to access a hierarchy of content items. The hierarchy ofcontent items includes at least a first parent content item and aplurality of child content items of the first parent content item. Thefirst user interface includes a display of at least a portion of a firstchild content item of the plurality of child content items withoutdisplaying the first parent content item or any child content item,other than the first child content item, of the plurality of childcontent items. The method also includes detecting a first pan gestureand determining an initial direction of the first pan gesture. Themethod further includes, in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of the first pan gesture is horizontal, replacing thefirst user interface with a second user interface that includes adisplay of at least a portion of a second child content item withoutdisplaying the parent content item or any child content item, other thanthe second child content item, of the plurality of child content items.The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of the first pan gesture is vertical, replacing thefirst user interface with a third user interface that includes aconcurrent display of an image that represents the first parent contentitem and a set of thumbnail images that correspond to two or more childcontent items of the plurality of child content items of the firstparent content item.

In some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic devicehaving a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, andmemory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the oneor more processors. The method includes displaying a first userinterface of a software application. The software application isconfigured to access a hierarchy of content items. The hierarchy ofcontent items includes at least a first parent content item and aplurality of child content items of the first parent content item. Thefirst user interface includes at least a portion of a first grandchildcontent of the first parent content item without displaying the firstparent content item, any child content item of the first parent contentitem, or any grandchild content item, other than the first grandchildcontent item, of a plurality of grandchild content items of the firstparent content item. The method also includes detecting a first pangesture and determining an initial direction of the first pan gesture.The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that theinitial direction of the first pan gesture is horizontal, replacing thefirst user interface with a second user interface that includes adisplay of a second grandchild content item of the first parent contentitem without displaying the first parent content item, any child contentitem of the first parent content item, or any grandchild content item,other than the second grandchild content item, of the plurality ofgrandchild content items of the first parent content item. The firstgrandchild content item and the second grandchild content item are childcontent items of a same child content item of the first parent contentitem. The method further includes, in accordance with a determinationthat the initial direction of the first pan gesture is vertical,replacing the first user interface with a third user interface thatincludes at least a portion of the child content item.

In some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic devicehaving a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, andmemory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the oneor more processors. The method includes displaying a first userinterface of a software application. The software application isconfigured to access a hierarchy of content items. The hierarchy ofcontent items includes at least a first content item and a secondcontent item. The first user interface includes a display of at least aportion of the first content item overlaid by a popover view. The methodalso includes detecting a first pan gesture and determining an initialdirection of the first pan gesture. The method further includes, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the firstpan gesture is horizontal, replacing the first user interface with adisplay of at least a portion of a second content item withoutdisplaying the first content item or the popover view. The methodfurther includes, in accordance with a determination that the initialdirection of the second pan gesture is vertical, ceasing to display thepopover view.

Although some of various drawings illustrate a number of logical stagesin a particular order, stages which are not order dependent may bereordered and other stages may be combined or broken out. While somereordering or other groupings are specifically mentioned, others will beobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art so drawings herein do notpresent an exhaustive list of alternatives. Moreover, it should berecognized that the stages could be implemented in hardware, firmware,software or any combination thereof.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the scope of the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Manymodifications and variations are possible in view of the aboveteachings. The embodiments were chosen in order to best explain theprinciples underlying the claims and their practical applications, tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the embodimentswith various modifications as are suited to the particular usescontemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer readable storage mediumstoring one or more programs, the one or more programs comprisinginstructions, which, when executed by an electronic device with adisplay, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more processors, causethe device to: display a first user interface of a software application,wherein: the software application is configured to access a hierarchy ofcontent items; the hierarchy of content items includes at least a firstparent content item and a plurality of child content items of the firstparent content item; and the first user interface includes a concurrentdisplay of a first image that represents the first parent content itemand a first set of thumbnail images that correspond to two or more childcontent items of the plurality of child content items of the firstparent content item; while displaying the first image and the first setof thumbnail images, detect a first single-touch pan gesture initiallyat a location, on the touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to arespective thumbnail image of the first set of thumbnail images, whereinthe respective thumbnail image corresponds to a first child content itemof the plurality of child content items; determine an initial directionof the first single-touch pan gesture; in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the first single-touch pangesture is horizontal, replace a display of the first set of thumbnailimages with a display of a second set of thumbnail images thatcorrespond to two or more child content items of the plurality of childcontent items, wherein the thumbnail images in the first set aredistinct from the thumbnail images in the second set; and, in accordancewith a determination that the initial direction of the firstsingle-touch pan gesture is vertical, replace the first user interfacewith a second user interface that includes at least a portion of thefirst child content item without displaying the first parent contentitem or any child content item other than the first child content item.2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein: thehierarchy of content items includes a second parent content item,distinct from the first parent content item, and a plurality of childcontent items of the second parent content item; and the one or moreprograms include instructions, which, when executed by the electronicdevice with the display, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one ormore processors, cause the device to: detect a second single-touch pangesture initially at a location, on the touch-sensitive surface, thatcorresponds to the first image that represents the first parent contentitem; determine an initial direction of the second single-touch pangesture; and, in accordance with a determination that the initialdirection of the second single-touch pan gesture is horizontal, replacethe first user interface with a third user interface that includes aconcurrent display of a second image that represents the second parentcontent item and a set of thumbnail images that correspond to two ormore child content items of the plurality of child content items of thesecond parent content item.
 3. The computer readable storage medium ofclaim 1, wherein the first image that represents the first parentcontent item is selected from images in the plurality of child contentitems of the first parent content item.
 4. The computer readable storagemedium of claim 1, wherein: the hierarchy of content items includes asecond parent content item, distinct from the first parent content item,and a plurality of child content items of the second parent contentitem; and the one or more programs include instructions, which, whenexecuted by the electronic device with the display, the touch-sensitivesurface, and the one or more processors, cause the device to: detect asecond single-touch pan gesture initially at a location, on thetouch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to the first image thatrepresents the first parent content item; determine an initial directionof the second single-touch pan gesture; in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the second single-touch pangesture is horizontal, replace the first user interface with a thirduser interface that includes a concurrent display of a second image thatrepresents the second parent content item and a set of thumbnail imagesthat correspond to two or more child content items of the plurality ofchild content items of the second parent content item; and, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is vertical, display a user interface for thesoftware application that includes a search input area.
 5. The computerreadable storage medium of claim 1, wherein: the one or more programsinclude instructions, which, when executed by the electronic device withthe display, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one or moreprocessors, cause the device to: while displaying the second userinterface, detect a second single-touch pan gesture; determine aninitial direction of the second single-touch pan gesture; in accordancewith a determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is horizontal, replace the second userinterface with a third user interface that includes a display of atleast a portion of a second child content item without displaying theparent content item or any child content item, other than the secondchild content item, of the plurality of child content items; and, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is vertical, replace the second user interfacewith a fourth user interface that includes a concurrent display of animage that represents the first parent content item and a set ofthumbnail images that correspond to two or more child content items ofthe plurality of child content items of the first parent content item.6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein: the set ofthumbnail images in the fourth user interface includes the respectivethumbnail image; and the one or more programs include instructions,which, when executed by the electronic device with the display, thetouch-sensitive surface, and the one or more processors, cause thedevice to: subsequent to the determination that the initial direction ofthe second single-touch pan gesture is vertical, detect a movement, ofthe second single-touch pan gesture across the touch-sensitive surface,that is in a non-vertical direction; and, in response to detecting themovement, of the second single-touch pan gesture across thetouch-sensitive surface, that is in a non-vertical direction, move therespective thumbnail image in a horizontal direction in accordance witha horizontal movement of the second single-touch pan gesture across thetouch-sensitive surface.
 7. The computer readable storage medium ofclaim 5, wherein the one or more programs include instructions, which,when executed by the electronic device with the display, thetouch-sensitive surface, and the one or more processors, cause thedevice to: while displaying the third user interface, detect a touchinput on the second child content item; in response to detecting thetouch input on the second child content item, replace the third userinterface with a fifth user interface that provides a further portion ofthe second child content item; while displaying the fifth userinterface, detect a touch input on the second child content item; and,in response to detecting the touch input on the second child contentitem, replace the fifth user interface with the third user interface. 8.The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the one or moreprograms include instructions, which, when executed by the electronicdevice with the display, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one ormore processors, cause the device to: display a third user interfacethat includes at least a portion of a first grandchild content item ofthe first parent content item without displaying the first parentcontent item, any child content item of the first parent content item,or any grandchild content item, other than the first grandchild contentitem, of a plurality of grandchild content items of the first parentcontent item; detect a second single-touch pan gesture; determine aninitial direction of the second single-touch pan gesture; in accordancewith a determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is horizontal, replace the third user interfacewith a fourth user interface that includes a display of a secondgrandchild content item of the first parent content item withoutdisplaying the first parent content item, any child content item of thefirst parent content item, or any grandchild content item, other thanthe second grandchild content item, of the plurality of grandchildcontent items of the first parent content item, wherein the firstgrandchild content item and the second grandchild content item are childcontent items of a same child content item of the first parent contentitem; and, in accordance with a determination that the initial directionof the second single-touch pan gesture is vertical, replace the thirduser interface with a fifth user interface that includes at least aportion of the first child content item.
 9. The computer readablestorage medium of claim 8, wherein the one or more programs includeinstructions, which, when executed by the electronic device with thedisplay, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one or more processors,cause the device to: while the second single-touch pan gesture isdetected on the touch-sensitive surface, after determining that theinitial direction of the second single-touch pan gesture is vertical:display at least a portion of the first child content item overlaid bythe first grandchild content item; and move the first grandchild contentitem in accordance with the second single-touch pan gesture; determinethat the second single-touch pan gesture has ceased to be detected onthe touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to determining that thesecond single-touch pan gesture has ceased to be detected on thetouch-sensitive surface, replace the third user interface with the fifthuser interface.
 10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1,wherein: the hierarchy of content items includes at least a firstcontent item and a second content item; and the one or more programsinclude instructions, which, when executed by the electronic device withthe display, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one or moreprocessors, cause the device to: display a third user interface thatincludes a display of at least a portion of the first content itemoverlaid by a popover view; detect a second single-touch pan gesture;determine an initial direction of the second single-touch pan gesture;in accordance with a determination that the initial direction of thesecond single-touch pan gesture is horizontal, replace the third userinterface with a display of at least a portion of the second contentitem without displaying the first content item or the popover view; and,in accordance with a determination that the initial direction of thesecond single-touch pan gesture is vertical, cease to display thepopover view.
 11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1,wherein the determination that the initial direction of the firstsingle-touch pan gesture is vertical comprises a determination that thefirst single-touch pan gesture begins at the location and continues upinto the first parent content item.
 12. An electronic device,comprising: a display; a touch-sensitive surface; one or moreprocessors; and memory, the memory storing one or more programs that areconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or moreprograms including instructions for: displaying a first user interfaceof a software application, wherein: the software application isconfigured to access a hierarchy of content items; the hierarchy ofcontent items includes at least a first parent content item and aplurality of child content items of the first parent content item; andthe first user interface includes a concurrent display of a first imagethat represents the first parent content item and a first set ofthumbnail images that correspond to two or more child content items ofthe plurality of child content items of the first parent content item;while displaying the first image and the first set of thumbnail images,detecting a first single-touch pan gesture initially at a location, onthe touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to a respective thumbnailimage of the first set of thumbnail images, wherein the respectivethumbnail image corresponds to a first child content item of theplurality of child content items; determining an initial direction ofthe first single-touch pan gesture; in accordance with a determinationthat the initial direction of the first single-touch pan gesture ishorizontal, replacing a display of the first set of thumbnail imageswith a display of a second set of thumbnail images that correspond totwo or more child content items of the plurality of child content items,wherein the thumbnail images in the first set are distinct from thethumbnail images in the second set; and, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the first single-touch pangesture is vertical, replacing the first user interface with a seconduser interface that includes at least a portion of the first childcontent item without displaying the first parent content item or anychild content item other than the first child content item.
 13. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein: the hierarchy of content items includes asecond parent content item, distinct from the first parent content item,and a plurality of child content items of the second parent contentitem; and the one or more programs include instructions for: detecting asecond single-touch pan gesture initially at a location, on thetouch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to the first image thatrepresents the first parent content item; determining an initialdirection of the second single-touch pan gesture; and, in accordancewith a determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is horizontal, replacing the first userinterface with a third user interface that includes a concurrent displayof a second image that represents the second parent content item and aset of thumbnail images that correspond to two or more child contentitems of the plurality of child content items of the second parentcontent item.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein: the hierarchy ofcontent items includes a second parent content item, distinct from thefirst parent content item, and a plurality of child content items of thesecond parent content item; and the one or more programs includeinstructions for: detecting a second single-touch pan gesture initiallyat a location, on the touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to thefirst image that represents the first parent content item; determiningan initial direction of the second single-touch pan gesture; inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is horizontal, replacing the first userinterface with a third user interface that includes a concurrent displayof a second image that represents the second parent content item and aset of thumbnail images that correspond to two or more child contentitems of the plurality of child content items of the second parentcontent item; and, in accordance with a determination that the initialdirection of the second single-touch pan gesture is vertical, displayinga user interface for the software application that includes a searchinput area.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein: the one or moreprograms include instructions for: while displaying the second userinterface, detecting a second single-touch pan gesture; determining aninitial direction of the second single-touch pan gesture; in accordancewith a determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is horizontal, replacing the second userinterface with a third user interface that includes a display of atleast a portion of a second child content item without displaying theparent content item or any child content item, other than the secondchild content item, of the plurality of child content items; and, inaccordance with a determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is vertical, replacing the second userinterface with a fourth user interface that includes a concurrentdisplay of an image that represents the first parent content item and aset of thumbnail images that correspond to two or more child contentitems of the plurality of child content items of the first parentcontent item.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein: the set of thumbnailimages in the fourth user interface includes the respective thumbnailimage; and the one or more programs include instructions for: subsequentto the determination that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is vertical, detecting a movement, of thesecond single-touch pan gesture across the touch-sensitive surface, thatis in a non-vertical direction; and, in response to detecting themovement, of the second single-touch pan gesture across thetouch-sensitive surface, that is in a non-vertical direction, moving therespective thumbnail image in a horizontal direction in accordance witha horizontal movement of the second single-touch pan gesture across thetouch-sensitive surface.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the one ormore programs include instructions for: while displaying the third userinterface, detecting a touch input on the second child content item; inresponse to detecting the touch input on the second child content item,replacing the third user interface with a fifth user interface thatprovides a further portion of the second child content item; whiledisplaying the fifth user interface, detecting a touch input on thesecond child content item; and, in response to detecting the touch inputon the second child content item, replacing the fifth user interfacewith the third user interface.
 18. The device of claim 12, wherein theone or more programs include instructions for: displaying a third userinterface that includes at least a portion of a first grandchild contentitem of the first parent content item without displaying the firstparent content item, any child content item of the first parent contentitem, or any grandchild content item, other than the first grandchildcontent item, of a plurality of grandchild content items of the firstparent content item; detecting a second single-touch pan gesture;determining an initial direction of the second single-touch pan gesture;in accordance with a determination that the initial direction of thesecond single-touch pan gesture is horizontal, replacing the third userinterface with a fourth user interface that includes a display of asecond grandchild content item of the first parent content item withoutdisplaying the first parent content item, any child content item of thefirst parent content item, or any grandchild content item, other thanthe second grandchild content item, of the plurality of grandchildcontent items of the first parent content item, wherein the firstgrandchild content item and the second grandchild content item are childcontent items of a same child content item of the first parent contentitem; and, in accordance with a determination that the initial directionof the second single-touch pan gesture is vertical, replacing the thirduser interface with a fifth user interface that includes at least aportion of the first child content item.
 19. The device of claim 18,wherein the one or more programs include instructions for: while thesecond single-touch pan gesture is detected on the touch-sensitivesurface, after determining that the initial direction of the secondsingle-touch pan gesture is vertical: displaying at least a portion ofthe first child content item overlaid by the first grandchild contentitem; and moving the first grandchild content item in accordance withthe second single-touch pan gesture; determining that the secondsingle-touch pan gesture has ceased to be detected on thetouch-sensitive surface; and, in response to determining that the secondsingle-touch pan gesture has ceased to be detected on thetouch-sensitive surface, replacing the third user interface with thefifth user interface.
 20. The device of claim 12, wherein: the hierarchyof content items includes at least a first content item and a secondcontent item; and the one or more programs include instructions for:displaying a third user interface that includes a display of at least aportion of the first content item overlaid by a popover view; detectinga second single-touch pan gesture; determining an initial direction ofthe second single-touch pan gesture; in accordance with a determinationthat the initial direction of the second single-touch pan gesture ishorizontal, replacing the third user interface with a display of atleast a portion of the second content item without displaying the firstcontent item or the popover view; and, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the second single-touch pangesture is vertical, ceasing to display the popover view.
 21. A method,comprising: at an electronic device having a display, a touch-sensitivesurface, one or more processors, and memory, the memory storing one ormore programs for execution by the one or more processors: displaying afirst user interface of a software application, wherein: the softwareapplication is configured to access a hierarchy of content items; thehierarchy of content items includes at least a first parent content itemand a plurality of child content items of the first parent content item;and the first user interface includes a concurrent display of a firstimage that represents the first parent content item and a first set ofthumbnail images that correspond to two or more child content items ofthe plurality of child content items of the first parent content item;while displaying the first image and the first set of thumbnail images,detecting a first single-touch pan gesture initially at a location, onthe touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to a respective thumbnailimage of the first set of thumbnail images, wherein the respectivethumbnail image corresponds to a first child content item of theplurality of child content items; determining an initial direction ofthe first single-touch pan gesture; in accordance with a determinationthat the initial direction of the first single-touch pan gesture ishorizontal, replacing a display of the first set of thumbnail imageswith a display of a second set of thumbnail images that correspond totwo or more child content items of the plurality of child content items,wherein the thumbnail images in the first set are distinct from thethumbnail images in the second set; and, in accordance with adetermination that the initial direction of the first single-touch pangesture is vertical, replacing the first user interface with a seconduser interface that includes at least a portion of the first childcontent item without displaying the first parent content item or anychild content item other than the first child content item.